by our College Data Analytics Team
[Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their petroleum engineering graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools.
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Below are the schools whose petroleum engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of Tulsa earned the #1 spot for highest-paid petroleum engineering graduates in the Southwest Region. University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,091.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $121,692 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Texas Tech University one of the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Texas Tech University is a public school located in the city of Lubbock. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of about $116,140 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in petroleum engineering will find them at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #4. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $125,028 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in petroleum engineering will find them at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, which ranked #5. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Norman. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus typically earn about $100,791 annually.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,276.
University Of Houston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from University Of Houston make a median of around $88,652 per year.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #8 position for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville typically earn about $43,257 annually.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #9 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. Located in the town of Socorro, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,325.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries petroleum engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 9 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.