2026 Best Petroleum Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Petroleum Engineering bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 32 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Colorado School Of Mines, our #1 Petroleum Engineering school in the United States. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $27,000. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Mines
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on this year's Petroleum Engineering ranking in the United States. Set in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $17,239. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
Out of the 32 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #3 spot. 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. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Texas A And M University College Station Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $19,000 in debt. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #4 on this year's Petroleum Engineering ranking in the United States. Located in Butte, MT, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,289, while out-of-state students pay about $26,094. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $27,000. See the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana profile
A rank of #5 makes University Of Tulsa one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Tulsa, OK, University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Tulsa posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,546. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $27,000. More on University Of Tulsa
Texas Tech University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $26,090. Get the full Texas Tech University report
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,607, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read the full report on The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
University Of North Dakota did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $27,000. Read more about University Of North Dakota
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Based in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Missouri University Of Science And Technology Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $28,950 in debt. See the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology profile
Marietta College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Get the full Marietta College report
Mississippi State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $23,969. More on Mississippi State University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read more about University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #13 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. More on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
West Virginia University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. West Virginia University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $26,000. More on West Virginia University
University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Based in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. University Of Alaska Fairbanks graduates 39% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,083, compared with $25,892 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of Wyoming came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Laramie, WY. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $24,638. Read more about University Of Wyoming
University Of Kansas placed #17 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. University Of Kansas Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. More on University Of Kansas
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $23,366. Get the full University Of Houston report
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Based in Socorro, NM, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology graduates 57% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,476, compared with $27,247 for out-of-state students. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $28,756. Read more about New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Texas A And M University Kingsville did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Kingsville, TX, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $25,531. More on Texas A And M University Kingsville
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #21 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Lafayette, LA, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. University Of Louisiana Lafayette posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,418, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. Students borrow a median of $22,806 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read more about University Of Louisiana Lafayette
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Read more about Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Saint Francis University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Saint Francis University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #25 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rest of the Top 15% Best Petroleum Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Texas A And M International University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on Texas A And M International University
University Of Utah ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. See the full University Of Utah profile
University Of Southern California landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Southern California
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #29 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania report
Stanford University landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. See the full Stanford University profile
The University Of Alabama came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Alabama
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus profile
Related Petroleum Engineering Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Petroleum Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Petroleum Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Associate’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
These rankings are produced 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).