NEW 2026 Best Colleges Rankings!

NEW 2026 Hidden Gem Colleges!

Search for a different college major

Home
>
Browse All Majors
>
Engineering
>
Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Select Type of Degree:

Select State:


#1 #1 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO Each year, Colorado School of Mines grants around 301 degrees to students studying Mechanical Engineering, the institution’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering....view more Acceptance Rate 60% Annual Degrees Awarded 28 SAT Score 1,330–1,470 Median Starting Salary $69,085
#2 #2 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Each year, The University of Texas at Austin awards around 744 degrees to those majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 27% Annual Degrees Awarded 61 SAT Score 1,250–1,490 Median Starting Salary $64,875
#3 #3 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA At Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the most popular majors students study are Finance, General, Psychology, General, and Information Science/Studies. In fact, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus awards 533 degrees annually to Finance, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 61% Annual Degrees Awarded 68 SAT Score 1,250–1,430 Median Starting Salary $67,238
#4 #4 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK At the University of Tulsa, the three most popular college majors students study are Behavioral Sciences, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Mechanical Engineering. In fact, the University of Tulsa grants 49 degrees every year to Behavioral Sciences majors....view more Acceptance Rate 62% Annual Degrees Awarded 15 SAT Score 1,220–1,510 Median Starting Salary $64,928
#5 #5 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Marietta College Marietta, OH Each year, Marietta College awards around 18 degrees to students studying Psychology, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 79% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 960–1,190 Median Starting Salary $69,732
#6 #6 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Montana Technological University Butte, MT At Montana Technological University, the three most popular college majors students study are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Mechanical Engineering, Management Information Systems and Services, and Other....view more Acceptance Rate 90% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score 990–1,220 Median Starting Salary $61,832
#7 #7 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX At Texas A&M University-College Station, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, Biomedical Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 57% Annual Degrees Awarded 91 SAT Score 1,170–1,400 Median Starting Salary $66,609
#8 #8 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, TX Every year, The University of Texas Permian Basin grants about 116 degrees to students studying Psychology, General, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Education, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 93% Annual Degrees Awarded 17 SAT Score 910–1,130 Median Starting Salary $66,302
#9 #9 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK At the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, and Organizational Behavior Studies....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 26 SAT Score 1,140–1,340 Median Starting Salary $66,216
#10 #10 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA At Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, the most popular majors students pursue are Physical Education Teaching and Coaching, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Mass Communication/Media Studies....view more Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 27 SAT Score 1,180–1,370 Median Starting Salary $66,990
#11 #11 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM Every year, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology grants about 65 degrees to those majoring in Mechanical Engineering, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 54% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,130–1,330 Median Starting Salary $61,201
#12 #12 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX At Texas Tech University, the three most popular college majors students study are Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 25 SAT Score 1,110–1,290 Median Starting Salary $67,078
#13 #13 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Saint Francis University Loretto, PA Each year, Saint Francis University grants around 41 degrees to students majoring in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Physician Assistant, Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 79% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,050–1,250 Median Starting Salary $71,654
#14 #14 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO Each year, Missouri University of Science and Technology grants around 212 degrees to students studying Mechanical Engineering, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,210–1,410 Median Starting Salary $65,332
#15 #15 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Each year, the University of Wyoming awards around 160 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Elementary Education and Teaching, and Criminal Justice/Safety Studies....view more Acceptance Rate 97% Annual Degrees Awarded 14 SAT Score 1,040–1,280 Median Starting Salary $67,933
#16 #16 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Annually, the University of North Dakota grants about 290 degrees to those majoring in Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General, the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score 1,090–1,290 Median Starting Salary $71,857
#17 #17 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA At Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, the three most popular college majors students study are Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician, Health and Wellness, General, Special Education and Teaching, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 71% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 980–1,200 Median Starting Salary $72,169
#18 #18 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA Each year, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette awards about 354 degrees to students studying General Studies, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 89% Annual Degrees Awarded 13 SAT Score 1,010–1,210 Median Starting Salary $65,904
#19 #19 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Every year, the University of Kansas grants about 274 degrees to those studying Psychology, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Journalism, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 93% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,050–1,310 Median Starting Salary $68,727
#20 #20 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Annually, Mississippi State University awards about 377 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 78% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,090–1,350 Median Starting Salary $64,686
#21 #21 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK Annually, the University of Alaska Fairbanks grants about 43 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 62% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,030–1,270 Median Starting Salary $65,813
#22 #22 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, TX At Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the three most popular college majors students pursue are General Studies, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Animal Sciences, and General. In fact, Texas A&M University-Kingsville grants 132 degrees every year to graduating General Studies students....view more Acceptance Rate 91% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 890–1,100 Median Starting Salary $64,420
#23 #23 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Each year, West Virginia University awards about 179 degrees to students majoring in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 78% Annual Degrees Awarded 14 SAT Score 1,020–1,230 Median Starting Salary $68,588
#24 #24 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Texas A&M International University Laredo, TX At Texas A&M International University, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Criminal Justice/Police Science, Psychology, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 46% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 920–1,120 Median Starting Salary $66,004
#25 #25 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Houston Houston, TX Each year, the University of Houston awards about 718 degrees to those studying Psychology, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Computer and Information Sciences, General, Finance, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 74% Annual Degrees Awarded 13 SAT Score 1,160–1,340 Median Starting Salary $63,549
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

About Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering programs prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for locating, extracting, processing and refining crude petroleum and natural gas, including prospecting instruments and equipment, mining and drilling systems, processing and refining systems and facilities, storage facilities, transportation systems, and related environmental and safety systems.

For all the 727 degrees granted in Petroleum Engineering annually, the majority of them are Doctors degree research scholarship. Of the 488 students earning degrees at the Bachelors degree level across the US, 81% percent identify as men and 19% percent identify as women. While students at schools all over the US study Petroleum Engineering, Texas has the most graduates. The average starting salary for a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering is $96,700.

Popularity of Petroleum Engineering Degrees in the U.S.

This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Petroleum Engineering degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.

Less Popular

More Popular

Careers

Majoring in Petroleum Engineering, your experience is applicable to different careers. Petroleum Engineering majors go on to find jobs including Architectural and Engineering Managers and Petroleum Engineers which are in high demand. Some of the top paying jobs for Petroleum Engineering majors include Architectural and Engineering Managers, Petroleum Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Petroleum Engineering majors.

Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Petroleum Engineering majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

488

Female Students

92 (18%)

Male Students

396 (81%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Petroleum Engineering

#1 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

60%

28

1,330–1,470

$69,085

#2 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

27%

61

1,250–1,490

$64,875

#3 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

61%

68

1,250–1,430

$67,238

#4 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

62%

15

1,220–1,510

$64,928

#5 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

79%

11

960–1,190

$69,732

#6 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

90%

10

990–1,220

$61,832

#7 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

57%

91

1,170–1,400

$66,609

#8 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

93%

17

910–1,130

$66,302

#9 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

77%

26

1,140–1,340

$66,216

#10 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

73%

27

1,180–1,370

$66,990

#11 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

54%

3

1,130–1,330

$61,201

#12 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

73%

25

1,110–1,290

$67,078

#13 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

79%

4

1,050–1,250

$71,654

#14 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

73%

11

1,210–1,410

$65,332

#15 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

97%

14

1,040–1,280

$67,933

#16 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S.

77%

10

1,090–1,290