Petroleum Engineering
CIP Code: 14.2501A petroleum engineering degree prepares graduates for careers in Architectural and engineering managers, Petroleum engineers, Engineering teachers, postsecondary. 28 colleges and universities offer this program.
Petroleum Engineering Salary by College
Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $104,823 four years after graduating (middle half: $80,747–$146,680). Where you study it matters: across 19 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $77,469 to $145,353.
Sort by:
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | 1 yr after | Median debt | Outcome Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK | $145,353 | $163,197 | — | $26,950 | A |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | $139,867 | $142,204 | $86,761 | $17,239 | A+ |
| 3 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX | $139,864 | $142,201 | $80,460 | $24,850 | B+ |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK | $123,416 | $138,567 | $61,223 | $23,000 | A |
| 5 | Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO | $116,691 | $109,129 | $77,400 | $26,500 | A+ |
| 6 | Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX | $114,686 | $116,602 | $69,603 | $18,969 | A |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | $113,669 | $115,602 | $85,795 | $22,837 | A |
| 8 | Montana Technological University Butte, MT | $106,076 | $115,871 | $69,212 | $27,000 | C+ |
| 9 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA | $103,421 | $119,718 | $56,605 | $24,211 | A |
| 10 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA | $102,594 | $118,760 | $49,781 | $20,500 | C |
| 11 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO | $102,405 | $109,800 | $69,670 | $27,750 | A |
| 12 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY | $100,911 | $105,171 | $66,221 | $24,188 | B |
| 13 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND | $99,932 | $103,532 | $73,821 | $27,000 | B+ |
| 14 | Marietta College Marietta, OH | $99,295 | $105,963 | $82,205 | $27,000 | B |
| 15 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS | $97,527 | $101,249 | $42,865 | — | B+ |
| 16 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM | $95,234 | $110,266 | $42,325 | $24,000 | A |
| 17 | University of Houston Houston, TX | $94,651 | $96,232 | $52,295 | $22,233 | B+ |
| 18 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | $91,142 | $107,826 | $68,913 | $26,000 | B+ |
| 19 | Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, TX | $77,469 | $78,763 | $43,257 | — | D |
Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.
What Can You Do With a Petroleum Engineering Degree?
Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:
Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in petroleum engineering.
| # | College | Location | Degrees Awarded | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 100 | A |
| 2 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | 141 | B+ |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | 68 | B+ |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | Norman, OK | 51 | B |
| 5 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | 50 | B |
| 6 | University of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | 43 | B |
| 7 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 35 | B |
| 8 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Baton Rouge, LA | 32 | B |
| 9 | University of Houston | Houston, TX | 28 | B |
| 10 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | 26 | B |
Largest Petroleum Engineering Programs
Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most petroleum engineering graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.
| # | College | Location | Degrees Awarded | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | 141 | B+ |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 100 | A |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | 68 | B+ |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | Norman, OK | 51 | B |
| 5 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | 50 | B |
| 6 | University of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | 43 | B |
| 7 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 35 | B |
| 8 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Baton Rouge, LA | 32 | B |
| 9 | University of Houston | Houston, TX | 28 | B |
| 10 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | 26 | B |
About Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering is a degree program offered at 28 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 755 students graduate with this degree.
Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as architectural and engineering managers, petroleum engineers, engineering teachers, postsecondary.