Petroleum Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools to find the best for petroleum engineering students.
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.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Petroleum Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh 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.
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2027 ranking of the best petroleum engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 108 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $86,761. Students borrow a median of $17,239 to complete this degree.
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 #2. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 134 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $120,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in petroleum engineering, ranking #3. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 14 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong petroleum engineering program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. 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. About 43 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $85,795 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,368.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Colorado School Of Mines is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. About 45 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $77,400. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from Colorado School Of Mines
University Of Houston came in at #6 for petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 37 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $52,295 in their early career. 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 Tulsa placed #7 among the best petroleum engineering schools. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Tulsa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Tulsa generally make around $62,482. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from University Of Tulsa
Texas Tech University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best petroleum engineering schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from Texas Tech University earn around $80,460 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,090.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from Texas Tech University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #9 among the best petroleum engineering schools. 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 59 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn around $61,223 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
Get the full petroleum engineering details for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #10 spot for petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $56,605 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,750.
Read more about the petroleum engineering program at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
University Of North Dakota landed the #11 spot for petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $73,821 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full petroleum engineering details for University Of North Dakota
University Of Wyoming ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best petroleum engineering schools. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 petroleum engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wyoming in the most recent year. Students who receive their petroleum engineering degree from University Of Wyoming earn around $66,221 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,638 to complete this degree.
Get the full petroleum engineering details for University Of Wyoming
West Virginia University came in at #13 for petroleum engineering this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. West Virginia University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia University in the most recent data year. Petroleum Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $68,913 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for West Virginia University
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best petroleum engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Odessa. 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 16 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the petroleum engineering program make about $61,299 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
See the full petroleum engineering program report for The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Marietta College came in at #15 for petroleum engineering this year. Set in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 petroleum engineering students who graduated with this degree at Marietta College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Marietta College generally make around $82,205. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in petroleum engineering from Marietta College
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earned the #16 position for petroleum engineering this year. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana awarded about 10 petroleum engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana generally make around $69,212. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the petroleum engineering program at Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 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).
