2026 Best Petroleum Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Petroleum Engineering doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 32 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Colorado School Of Mines tops our 2026 ranking of the best Petroleum Engineering doctoral degree schools in the United States. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school based in Golden, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Colorado School Of Mines Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Mines
Out of the 32 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #2 spot. Set in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $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, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #3 spot. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
Out of the 32 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Southern California landed the #4 spot. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $15,625. Get the full University Of Southern California report
The strong Petroleum Engineering programs at Texas Tech University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. See the full Texas Tech University profile
University Of Tulsa placed #6 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Tulsa, OK, University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,546. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $27,000. Read the full report on University Of Tulsa
University Of North Dakota ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Based in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. University Of North Dakota Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about University Of North Dakota
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #8 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school based in Rolla, MO. Missouri University Of Science And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Read the full report on Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Stanford University placed #9 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,910. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $10,492. See the full Stanford University profile
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #10 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $24,625. See the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus profile
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. More on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
University Of Wyoming landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Laramie, WY, University Of Wyoming is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Students borrow a median of $24,638 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. More on University Of Wyoming
University Of Houston placed #13 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Houston, TX. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $23,366. Read the full report on University Of Houston
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Set 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, with out-of-state students paying around $27,247. Students borrow a median of $28,756 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read the full report on New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. See the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus profile
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Louisiana Lafayette came in at #17 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Louisiana Lafayette profile
University Of Utah landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Utah
Marietta College
Marietta College did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on Marietta College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #20 in this year's ranking. More on Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read more about The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Oklahoma State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus report
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Get the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana report
Texas A And M International University placed #24 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas A And M International University
Mississippi State University placed #25 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. More on Mississippi State University
Rest of the Top 15% Best Petroleum Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Texas A And M University Kingsville did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Texas A And M University Kingsville
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
West Virginia University did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about West Virginia University
Saint Francis University came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full Saint Francis University report
University Of Kansas landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Kansas
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #31 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
The University Of Alabama came in at #32 in this year's ranking. More on The University Of Alabama
Related Petroleum Engineering Rankings
Compare rankings at 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Petroleum Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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).