2026 Best Petroleum Engineering Schools
Looking for the best Petroleum Engineering programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 32 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Petroleum Engineering Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Colorado School Of Mines to be the best Petroleum Engineering school in the United States. Set in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Colorado School Of Mines posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Colorado School Of Mines Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. See the full Colorado School Of Mines profile
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top choices in the United States. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. The University Of Texas At Austin Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $17,239 in debt. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
Out of the 32 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Stanford University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,910. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $10,492. Read the full report on Stanford University
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on this year's Petroleum Engineering ranking in the United States. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $19,000. More on Texas A And M University College Station
Out of the 32 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Southern California landed the #5 spot. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $15,625. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana placed #6 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Butte, MT. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,289 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $27,000. More on Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
University Of Tulsa did well this year, earning the #7 position. University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit school based in Tulsa, OK. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $49,546. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $27,000. Read more about University Of Tulsa
Texas Tech University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $26,090. More on Texas Tech University
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Set in Odessa, TX, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public institution. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates 40% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Read more about The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
University Of North Dakota landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Based in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read the full report on University Of North Dakota
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school based in Rolla, MO. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $28,950. Read more about Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $22,337. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Marietta College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Marietta, OH, Marietta College is a private not-for-profit institution. Marietta College posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,652. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $27,000. More on Marietta College
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Norman, OK. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $24,625. Get the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus report
Mississippi State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $23,969. Get the full Mississippi State University report
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $25,750. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Located in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,083, with out-of-state students paying around $25,892. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $23,439. More on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of Utah ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $20,798. Read the full report on University Of Utah
West Virginia University did well this year, earning the #19 position. West Virginia University is a public school based in Morgantown, WV. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read more about West Virginia University
University Of Wyoming placed #20 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Laramie, WY, University Of Wyoming is a public institution. University Of Wyoming posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. University Of Wyoming Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $24,638 in debt. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Graduates carry a median of $23,366 in student loans. Get the full University Of Houston report
University Of Kansas placed #22 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. University Of Kansas posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. See the full University Of Kansas profile
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Socorro, NM, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,476, compared with $27,247 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $28,756 in student loans. See the full New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology profile
Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Based in Kingsville, TX, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public institution. Texas A And M University Kingsville posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $25,531. Read more about Texas A And M University Kingsville
University Of Louisiana Lafayette did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. University Of Louisiana Lafayette graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,418, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $22,806. More on University Of Louisiana Lafayette
Rest of the Top 15% Best Petroleum Engineering Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Texas A And M International University placed #26 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas A And M International University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania report
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
The University Of Alabama did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on The University Of Alabama
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Saint Francis University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. More on Saint Francis University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Best Petroleum Engineering Schools by Degree Level
Compare rankings by degree level:
- Best Petroleum Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 32 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).