Petroleum Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their petroleum engineering programs.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best petroleum engineering schools.
The petroleum engineering program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Petroleum Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Petroleum Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Petroleum Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Petroleum Engineering in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the petroleum engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in petroleum engineering. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 68 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for petroleum engineering. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 100 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $86,761 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,239.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from The University Of Texas At Austin
Students looking for a strong petroleum engineering program will find one at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #3. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 141 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $120,587 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Read more about the petroleum engineering program at Texas A And M University College Station
A rank of #4 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the top schools for petroleum engineering. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Golden. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Colorado School Of Mines awarded about 35 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from Colorado School Of Mines earn around $77,400 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from Colorado School Of Mines
Students looking for a strong petroleum engineering program will find one at University Of Tulsa, which ranked #5. University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 43 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Tulsa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $66,166 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for University Of Tulsa
Texas Tech University came in at #6 for petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $80,460 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,090 to complete this degree.
Get the full petroleum engineering details for Texas Tech University
University Of Houston came in at #7 for petroleum engineering this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. About 28 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $52,295 early in their careers. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $23,366 in student loans.
Get the full petroleum engineering details for University Of Houston
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #8 position for petroleum engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 51 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $61,223. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #9 spot for petroleum engineering this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 32 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $56,605 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full petroleum engineering details for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned the #10 position for petroleum engineering this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $69,670 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,950.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from Missouri University Of Science And Technology
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #11 position for petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 13 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Louisiana Lafayette in the most recent year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $49,781 in their early career. University Of Louisiana Lafayette graduates carry a median of $22,806 in student loans.
Read more about the petroleum engineering program at University Of Louisiana Lafayette
University Of Wyoming placed #12 among the best petroleum engineering schools. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $66,221 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,638.
Read more about the petroleum engineering program at University Of Wyoming
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #13 spot for petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates 40% of students within six years. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin awarded about 17 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $61,299 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
West Virginia University placed #14 among the best petroleum engineering schools. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. About 64% of students finish within six years. West Virginia University awarded about 21 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from West Virginia University earn around $68,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for West Virginia University
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best petroleum engineering schools. Located in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana in the most recent year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $69,212 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
Marietta College came in at #16 for petroleum engineering this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Marietta. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at Marietta College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from Marietta College earn around $82,205 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the petroleum engineering program at Marietta College
University Of North Dakota landed the #17 spot for petroleum engineering this year. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Forks. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of North Dakota in the most recent year. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $73,821 early in their careers. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for University Of North Dakota
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 32 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
