2026 Best Petroleum Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Petroleum Engineering master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 32 colleges 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 arm you with the information you need, 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year in the United States. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Stanford University Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $10,492 in debt. More on Stanford University
The strong Petroleum Engineering programs at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $17,239 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. See the full The University Of Texas At Austin profile
Out of the 32 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Colorado School Of Mines landed the #3 spot. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school based in Golden, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
The strong Petroleum Engineering programs at University Of Southern California earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #5 on this year's Petroleum Engineering ranking in the United States. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $19,000. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Tulsa placed #6 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tulsa, OK. University Of Tulsa posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,546. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $27,000. Read the full report on University Of Tulsa
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Butte, MT, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. See the full Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana profile
University Of North Dakota placed #8 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Set in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $27,000. Get the full University Of North Dakota report
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set 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, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Missouri University Of Science And Technology Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $28,950 in debt. Read more about Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Texas Tech University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Texas Tech University Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $26,090 in debt. See the full Texas Tech University profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Based in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Oklahoma State University Main Campus Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $22,337 in debt. More on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #12 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $24,625 in debt. Read more about University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. The median Petroleum Engineering program debt is $23,366. Get the full University Of Houston report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Based in Fairbanks, AK, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Students from in state pay about $10,083 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,892. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $23,439. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
University Of Utah came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Salt Lake City, UT. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $20,798. More on University Of Utah
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. This public school is set in Baton Rouge, LA. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $25,750 in debt. Read the full report on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
West Virginia University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Read the full report on West Virginia University
University Of Wyoming placed #18 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Laramie, WY. University Of Wyoming posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $24,638. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
University Of Kansas landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Set 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. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Get the full University Of Kansas report
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. This public school is set in Socorro, NM. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. Students from in state pay about $9,476 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,247. Typical Petroleum Engineering student debt is $28,756. Read more about New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #21 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Kingsville, TX, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public institution. Texas A And M University Kingsville graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,892, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Students borrow a median of $25,531 to complete their Petroleum Engineering program here. Read the full report on Texas A And M University Kingsville
Saint Francis University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Saint Francis University
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Get the full The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin report
The University Of Alabama ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 15% Best Petroleum Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus report
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus report
University Of Louisiana Lafayette came in at #28 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Louisiana Lafayette profile
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #29 among Petroleum Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania profile
Mississippi State University did well this year, earning the #30 position. More on Mississippi State University
Texas A And M International University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Petroleum Engineering schools. Read the full report on Texas A And M International University
Marietta College
Marietta College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Marietta College profile
Related Petroleum Engineering Rankings
See rankings for 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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).