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 321 degrees to students studying Mechanical Engineering, the institution’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 60% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,330–1,470 Median Starting Salary $69,085
#2 #2 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Annually, the University of North Dakota grants about 219 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 13 SAT Score 1,050–1,250 Median Starting Salary $71,857
#3 #3 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 Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Computer Science, and Kinesiology and Exercise Science. In fact, the University of Tulsa grants 52 degrees every year to Biology/Biological Sciences, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 62% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,220–1,510 Median Starting Salary $64,928
#4 #4 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Each year, the University of Wyoming awards around 158 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 7 SAT Score 1,040–1,280 Median Starting Salary $67,933
#5 #5 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 590 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 16 SAT Score 1,230–1,500 Median Starting Salary $64,875
#6 #6 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, Information Science/Studies, Psychology, and General. In fact, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus awards 577 degrees annually to Finance, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 61% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score 1,250–1,430 Median Starting Salary $67,238
#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 Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, Psychology, General, Biomedical Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 57% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score 1,170–1,400 Median Starting Salary $66,609
#8 #8 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 Zoology/Animal Biology....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,140–1,340 Median Starting Salary $66,216
#9 #9 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 203 degrees to students studying Mechanical Engineering, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,210–1,410 Median Starting Salary $65,332
#10 #10 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Houston Houston, TX Each year, the University of Houston awards about 693 degrees to those studying Psychology, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Finance, General, Computer and Information Sciences, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 74% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,160–1,340 Median Starting Salary $63,549
#11 #11 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Stanford University Stanford, CA Stanford offers students seven schools under the university, which include Business, Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Science, Law, and Medicine. Undergraduates must complete at least 180 units. This will include their major courses, writing and rhetoric, a year of foreign language, and more....view more Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Median Starting Salary $61,378
#12 #12 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students study are Management Science, Computer Science, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric. In fact, the University of Southern California awards 1221 degrees annually to Management Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Median Starting Salary $62,503
#13 #13 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 Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching, and Mass Communication/Media Studies....view more Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,180–1,370 Median Starting Salary $66,990
#14 #14 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, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,110–1,290 Median Starting Salary $67,078
#15 #15 Best College for Petroleum Engineering in the U.S. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK At Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Psychology, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 75% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,040–1,280 Median Starting Salary $66,300
*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 922 degrees granted in Petroleum Engineering annually, the majority of them are Doctors degree research scholarship. Of the 105 students earning degrees at the Doctors degree research scholarship level across the US, 89% percent identify as men and 11% 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

The highest paying job for Petroleum Engineering majors is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. However, something else to think about is how much demand there is for certain positions. A job that is in high need that a degree in Petroleum Engineering can prepare you for is 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.

#1 Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Student Demographics

Total Students

105

Female Students

12 (11%)

Male Students

93 (88%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Petroleum Engineering

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

60%

8

1,330–1,470

$69,085

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

77%

13

1,050–1,250

$71,857

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

62%

6

1,220–1,510

$64,928

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

97%

7

1,040–1,280

$67,933

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

27%

16

1,230–1,500

$64,875

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

61%

12

1,250–1,430

$67,238

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

57%

12

1,170–1,400

$66,609

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

77%

6

1,140–1,340

$66,216

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

73%

4

1,210–1,410

$65,332

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

74%

7

1,160–1,340

$63,549

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

4%

2

1,510–1,570

$61,378

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

10%

3

1,440–1,550

$62,503

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

73%

5

1,180–1,370

$66,990

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

73%

3

1,110–1,290

$67,078

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

75%

1

1,040–1,280

$66,300

About Petroleum Engineering

Careers

Top Paying Careers

Most In-Demand Careers