1,704
Graduates Per Year
$80K
Average Salary
#161
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
1,704
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
25
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
160
Environmental Engineering
1,712
161
Petroleum Engineering
1,704
162
Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations
1,677
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Southwest
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
By State
Texas
University of Houston
By Conference
Big Twelve Conference
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
By School
University of Southern California
If you think life as a petroleum geophysicist, drilling fluids engineer, or petroleum supply specialist sounds interesting, then a degree in petroleum engineering may just be for you. You could even become the surveyor that finds the biggest oil deposit in the western hemisphere!
Petroleum engineering is the 161st most popular degree in America, with 1,704 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #162 Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, and narrowly lost to #160 Environmental Engineering.
The degree is offered at a total of 25 colleges across the nation, and is the 363rd most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 1% of the Top 100 Best Colleges in America.
It is also worth noting that 83% of colleges offering petroleum engineering are public making it a very accessible field.
The southwest produces the most petroleum engineering graduates, largely led by University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, while it’s the Big Twelve Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Texas ranks highest, with particular help from University of Houston and Texas A & M University-College Station.
All that being said, no individual school produces more petroleum engineering graduates than University of Southern California, which graduated 173 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study petroleum engineering). More students studied petroleum engineering as a percentage of total students at Marietta College than any other college.
Good luck finding the right college for you. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Texas A & M University-College Station is a very large public university located in College Station, TX ranked 124th in America. It has a total of 56,527 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting something like four sevenths of applicants. Texas A & M University-College Station offers 409 different majors and is best known for its Construction Engineering Technology, Fitness Administration, and Petroleum Engineering programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $8,532 for students from Texas and $34,981 for those from out-of-state, Texas A & M University-College Station is somewhat moderately pricey. 76.91% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to bring in about $58,000 per year, which is 40% over the national median.
Read More
College Station, TX
https://www.tamu.edu
A
Rating
58%
Acceptance
73,267
Students
# 23
Ranking
$34,981
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Colorado School of Mines is a mid-sized public school of engineering and technology located in Golden, CO ranked 113th in the nation. It has a total of 5,116 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 53.08% acceptance rate. Colorado School of Mines offers 77 different majors and is best known for its Geological Engineering, Applied Physics, and Petroleum Engineering programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $16,650 for in-state students and $37,350 for those from out-of-state, Colorado School of Mines is quite costly. 78.76% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $84,900 per year, which is 104% greater than the national median.
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Golden, CO
www.mines.edu
A
Rating
53%
Acceptance
6,639
Students
# 17
Ranking
$37,350
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Tulsa is a small private university located in Tulsa, OK ranked 143rd in the US. It has a total of 3,535 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting 35.84% of applicants. University of Tulsa offers 160 different majors and is best known for its Environmental Control Technologies, Petroleum Engineering, and Voice and Opera programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 13th respectively). With an annual tuition of $41,698 per year, University of Tulsa is rather expensive. 57.93% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to make around $48,500 per year, which is 17% greater than the national median.
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Tulsa, OK
https://utulsa.edu
A
Rating
36%
Acceptance
4,799
Students
# 113
Ranking
$41,698
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin is a very large public university located in Austin, TX ranked 81st in America. It has a total of 43,132 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting barely below 1 out of every 3 applicants. The University of Texas at Austin offers 339 different majors and is best known for its Communication Sciences and Disorders, Writing, and Accounting programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,824 for students from Texas and $38,326 for those from out-of-state, The University of Texas at Austin is quite expensive. 77.77% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to earn more or less $58,200 per year, which is 40% above the national median.
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Austin, TX
www.utexas.edu
A+
Rating
32%
Acceptance
55,128
Students
# 10
Ranking
$38,326
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Marietta College is a small private institution located in Marietta, OH ranked 22nd in Ohio. It has a total of 1,202 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 70.78% of applicants. Marietta College offers 48 different majors and is best known for its Petroleum Engineering and Natural Resources Management and Policy programs, which are respectively ranked 5th and 25th in the nation. With an annual tuition of $35,030 per year, Marietta College is somewhat moderately high-priced. 53.07% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to bring in more or less $45,800 per year, which is 10% greater than the national median.
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Marietta, OH
www.marietta.edu
B-
Rating
71%
Acceptance
1,358
Students
# 421
Ranking
$35,030
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a very large public university located in Baton Rouge, LA ranked 3rd in Louisiana. It has a total of 26,828 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 74.58% of applicants. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College offers 228 different majors and is best known for its Physical Education, Construction Management, and Interior Architecture programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 2nd, and 5th respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,038 per year, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is relatively affordable. 58.9% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn around $50,100 per year, which is 21% over the national median.
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Baton Rouge, LA
www.lsu.edu
B+
Rating
75%
Acceptance
33,758
Students
# 103
Ranking
$8,038
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Houston is a very large public university located in Houston, TX ranked 17th in Texas. It has a total of 42,723 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 64.98% acceptance rate. University of Houston offers 225 different majors and is best known for its Construction Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technologies, and Biotechnology programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $8,219 for in-state students and $20,747 for those from out-of-state, University of Houston is reasonably pricey. 54.69% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to earn more or less $51,600 per year, which is 24% above the national median.
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Houston, TX
www.uh.edu/
B+
Rating
65%
Acceptance
51,999
Students
# 95
Ranking
$20,747
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a very large public university located in Norman, OK ranked 2nd in Oklahoma. It has a total of 24,261 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 80.41% acceptance rate. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus offers 279 different majors and is best known for its Organizational Behavior Studies, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, and Zoology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $4,788 for in-state students and $20,169 for those from out-of-state, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is reasonably priced. 53.71% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, joining the workforce. Open graduating, alumni go on to take in roughly $51,100 per year, which is 23% over the national median.
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Norman, OK
www.ou.edu
B+
Rating
80%
Acceptance
32,189
Students
# 116
Ranking
$20,169
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology is a mid-sized public university located in Rolla, MO ranked 7th in Missouri. It has a total of 7,040 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting in the neighborhood of 7/9ths of applicants. Missouri University of Science and Technology offers 118 different majors and is best known for its Geological Engineering, Industrial Management, and Nuclear Engineering programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,512 for students from Missouri and $26,060 for those from out-of-state, Missouri University of Science and Technology is somewhat moderately pricey. 61.41% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to draw more or less $71,200 per year, which is 71% over the national median.
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Rolla, MO
https://www.mst.edu/
B+
Rating
79%
Acceptance
9,265
Students
# 114
Ranking
$26,060
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a very large public university located in University Park, PA ranked 230th in the US. It has a total of 42,805 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 75.94% of applicants. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus offers 481 different majors and is best known for its Architectural Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, and Foreign Language Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $17,416 for students from Pennsylvania and $34,480 for those from out-of-state, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is reasonably expensive. 60.08% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn around $50,100 per year, which is 21% above the national median.
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University Park, PA
www.psu.edu/
A-
Rating
76%
Acceptance
49,935
Students
# 63
Ranking
$34,480
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Wyoming is a large public university located in Laramie, WY ranked 1st in Wyoming. It has a total of 11,076 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 95.96% acceptance rate. University of Wyoming offers 211 different majors and is best known for its Systems Science and Theory, Physiology, and Petroleum Engineering programs (nationally ranked 8th, 10th, and 11th respectively). With an annual tuition of $4,170 for in-state students and $16,740 for those from out-of-state, University of Wyoming is reasonably priced. 50.74% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to draw roughly $47,300 per year, which is 14% over the national median.
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Laramie, WY
www.uwyo.edu
C+
Rating
96%
Acceptance
13,926
Students
# 216
Ranking
$16,740
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Texas Tech University is a very large public university located in Lubbock, TX ranked 18th in Texas. It has a total of 33,618 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting something like 7/10ths of applicants. Texas Tech University offers 215 different majors and is best known for its Agricultural Public Services, Human Sciences, and Rhetoric and Composition programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $6,744 for students from Texas and $16,704 for those from out-of-state, Texas Tech University is moderately priced. 58.48% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to bring home near $51,400 per year, which is 24% greater than the national median.
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Lubbock, TX
www.ttu.edu
B
Rating
69%
Acceptance
41,153
Students
# 126
Ranking
$16,704
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
West Virginia University is a very large public university located in Morgantown, WV ranked 1st in West Virginia. It has a total of 22,522 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 84.28% of applicants. West Virginia University offers 213 different majors and is best known for its Natural Resources Management and Policy, Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management, and Forestry programs (nationally ranked 8th, 9th, and 10th respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,976 for students from West Virginia and $25,320 for those from out-of-state, West Virginia University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 48.57% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn near $45,800 per year, which is 10% over the national median.
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Morgantown, WV
www.wvu.edu
C+
Rating
84%
Acceptance
29,323
Students
# 234
Ranking
$25,320
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of North Dakota is a large public university located in Grand Forks, ND ranked 2nd in North Dakota. It has a total of 13,045 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 81.12% of applicants. University of North Dakota offers 226 different majors and is best known for its Air Transportation, Geological Engineering, and Computer Systems Analysis programs (nationally ranked 6th, 8th, and 11th respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,212 for in-state students and $14,371 for those from out-of-state, University of North Dakota is reasonably priced. 47.47% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to draw roughly $48,700 per year, which is 17% over the national median.
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Grand Forks, ND
https://und.edu
C+
Rating
81%
Acceptance
17,050
Students
# 236
Ranking
$14,371
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Kansas is a very large public university located in Lawrence, KS ranked 3rd in Kansas. It has a total of 21,107 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 93.1% of applicants. University of Kansas offers 369 different majors and is best known for its German Studies, Physical Education, and Behavioral Sciences programs (nationally ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,092 for students from Kansas and $26,960 for those from out-of-state, University of Kansas is reasonably high-priced. 55.48% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to take home around $48,800 per year, which is 17% over the national median.
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Lawrence, KS
https://ku.edu
B-
Rating
93%
Acceptance
31,088
Students
# 161
Ranking
$26,960
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Mississippi State University is a very large public university located in Mississippi State, MS ranked 3rd in Mississippi. It has a total of 19,952 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 53.86% of applicants. Mississippi State University offers 174 different majors and is best known for its Business Teacher Education, Veterinary Technology, and Agricultural Production Operations programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $8,800 for in-state students and $23,840 for those from out-of-state, Mississippi State University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 51.18% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to earn about $40,200 per year, which is 3% below the national median.
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Mississippi State, MS
https://www.msstate.edu
B
Rating
54%
Acceptance
24,251
Students
# 135
Ranking
$23,840
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a small public university located in Socorro, NM ranked 4th in New Mexico. It has a total of 1,482 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 79.79% of applicants. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology offers 57 different majors and is best known for its Physical Sciences, Petroleum Engineering, and Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing programs (nationally ranked 13th, 17th, and 26th respectively). With an annual tuition of $6,826 for students from New Mexico and $22,194 for those from out-of-state, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is reasonably expensive. 36.99% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $50,000 per year, which is 20% over the national median.
Read More
Socorro, NM
www.nmt.edu
C+
Rating
80%
Acceptance
2,099
Students
# 287
Ranking
$22,194
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Montana Technological University is a small public school of engineering and technology located in Butte, MT ranked 7th in Montana. It has a total of 1,746 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 90.96% acceptance rate. Montana Technological University offers 43 different majors and is best known for its Geological Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications programs (nationally ranked 9th, 18th, and 44th respectively). With an annual tuition of $5,707 for students from Montana and $20,791 for those from out-of-state, Montana Technological University is reasonably costly. 33.22% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to take in roughly $41,700 per year, which is 0% over the national median.
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Butte, MT
https://www.mtech.edu
C
Rating
91%
Acceptance
2,090
Students
# 531
Ranking
$20,791
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a large public university located in Lafayette, LA ranked 11th in Louisiana. It has a total of 16,560 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 67.91% acceptance rate. University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers 118 different majors and is best known for its Informatics, Petroleum Engineering, and Industrial Production Technologies programs (nationally ranked 12th, 19th, and 21st respectively). With an annual tuition of $5,407 for students from Louisiana and $19,135 for those from out-of-state, University of Louisiana at Lafayette is moderately priced. 45.65% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, entering the labor market. After finishing college, alumni go on to bring home more or less $39,900 per year, which is 4% under the national median.
Read More
Lafayette, LA
www.louisiana.edu
C+
Rating
68%
Acceptance
19,221
Students
# 283
Ranking
$19,135
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a mid-sized public institution located in Odessa, TX ranked 94th in Texas. It has a total of 6,046 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting just above seven out of every eight applicants. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin offers 52 different majors and is best known for its Petroleum Engineering program, which is ranked 20th in America. With an annual tuition of $4,867 for in-state students and $5,707 for those from out-of-state, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is quite affordable. 40.57% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to bring home approximately $46,100 per year, which is 11% above the national median.
Read More
Odessa, TX
www.utpb.edu
C
Rating
88%
Acceptance
8,165
Students
# 570
Ranking
$5,707
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks is a mid-sized public university located in Fairbanks, AK ranked 2nd in Alaska. It has a total of 11,045 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a little over three in four applicants. University of Alaska Fairbanks offers 196 different majors and is best known for its Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management, Geological Engineering, and Community Organization and Advocacy programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 19th respectively). With an annual tuition of $5,352 for students from Alaska and $18,936 for those from out-of-state, University of Alaska Fairbanks is moderately priced. 24.33% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to bring home roughly $38,700 per year, which is 7% below the national median.
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Fairbanks, AK
www.uaf.edu
C+
Rating
76%
Acceptance
12,297
Students
# 334
Ranking
$18,936
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Texas A & M University-Kingsville is a mid-sized public university located in Kingsville, TX ranked 89th in Texas. It has a total of 7,821 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 77.26% of applicants. Texas A & M University-Kingsville offers 97 different majors and is best known for its Veterinary Technology, Architectural Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering programs (nationally ranked 17th, 20th, and 22nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $4,801 for students from Texas and $18,191 for those from out-of-state, Texas A & M University-Kingsville is reasonably priced. 42.7% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to earn around $42,600 per year, which is 3% over the national median.
Read More
Kingsville, TX
https://WWW.TAMUK.EDU
C
Rating
77%
Acceptance
9,764
Students
# 539
Ranking
$18,191
Tuition