So let’s get down to business – you’re looking for the right Petroleum Engineering school. How should you choose one? First, watch this one-minute video that took me about 7 hours to make.
Now let’s get into the list of best schools.
Our rankings are based on a variety of factors (see below if you’re interested). The most important is the size and age of the Petroleum Engineering program. Then there’s the admittance rate (lower means the school is tougher to get into), retention rates (good schools don’t lose students), graduation rates (a high rate means the teaching is good) and last but not least, cost.
With that in mind, here’s the current rankings.
The Best Petroleum Engineering Schools
| Rank | School Name | State | S:F Ratio | % Admit | Ret. Rate | Grad. Rate | P.E. Degrees | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin | TX | 18 | 39% | 95% | 80% | 206 | $17,366 | |
| Colorado School of Mines | CO | 16 | 38% | 94% | 77% | 235 | $24,297 | |
| Texas A&M University | TX | 20 | 67% | 90% | 79% | 245 | $13,723 | |
| Pennsylvania State University | PA | 16 | 51% | 93% | 86% | 231 | $24,992 | |
| University of Tulsa | OK | 11 | 44% | 88% | 68% | 105 | $25,355 | |
| University of Oklahoma | OK | 18 | 78% | 85% | 66% | 188 | $16,909 | |
| Stanford University Petroleum Engineering | CA | 11 | 5% | 98% | 94% | 17 | $19,245 | |
| University of Southern California (USC) | CA | 9 | 18% | 96% | 92% | 80 | $31,384 | |
| Louisiana State University | LA | 22 | 77% | 85% | 67% | 200 | $13,552 | |
| Texas Tech University | TX | 22 | 63% | 83% | 60% | 163 | $15,005 | |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | MO | 18 | 88% | 87% | 65% | 90 | $13,910 | |
| University of Pittsburgh | PA | 15 | 54% | 92% | 82% | 19 | $24,311 | |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | NM | 14 | 24% | 75% | 49% | 51 | $12,489 | |
| West Virginia University | WV | 20 | 86% | 79% | 57% | 113 | $10,405 | |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | LA | 23 | 55% | 76% | 45% | 86 | $9,065 |
- S:F = Student to Faculty Ratio
- % Admit = Percentage of applicants who were admitted
- Ret. Rate = Retention rate, i.e. percentage of students who stay in the school
- Grad. Rate = Graduation rate. i.e. rate at which students pass with a degree
- PE Degrees = Number of P.E. degrees awarded by the department
Quick analysis: As you can see, we rate University of Texas very highly. It’s got a large program and is inexpensive. Penn State University is the best non-Texas/Colorado option, but overall there are a surprising number of schools with good petroleum engineering graduate programs. You can get a solid and respected degree in petroleum engineering (inc. natural gas) from many institutions in the United States.
Top Value for Money Colleges
In the table above, net price is only one of many ranking factors we consider. Saving us the trouble of doing a second set of calculations, Forbes magazine collaborates with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity to rank every institute of higher education in the USA according to the best value for money.
Their rankings are based on tuition costs, school quality, graduation success, and post-graduate earnings.
The number in brackets indicates the college’s national ranking (across all subjects, not just Petroleum Engineering).
| 1 (12) | Stanford University Petroleum Engineering | 11 | 98% | 94% | 17 | $19,245 |
| 2 (17) | University of Texas at Austin | 18 | 95% | 80% | 206 | $17,366 |
| 3 (18) | Texas A&M University | 20 | 90% | 79% | 245 | $13,723 |
| 4 (45) | Colorado School of Mines | 16 | 94% | 77% | 235 | $24,297 |
| 5 (69) | University of Southern California (USC) | 9 | 96% | 92% | 80 | $31,384 |
| 6 (95) | Pennsylvania State University | 16 | 93% | 86% | 231 | $24,992 |
| 7 (158) | University of Tulsa | 11 | 88% | 68% | 105 | $25,355 |
| 8 (160) | University of Pittsburgh | 15 | 92% | 82% | 19 | $24,311 |
| 9 (249) | Louisiana State University | 22 | 85% | 67% | 200 | $13,552 |
| 10 (269) | Missouri University of Science and Technology | 18 | 87% | 65% | 90 | $13,910 |
| 11 (289) | Marietta College | 10 | 73% | 66% | 82 | $23,539 |
The aim of this page is to compare and rank universities, colleges, and schools which offer Petroleum Engineering degrees. These useful tables show an at-a-glance comparison of programs in North America.
The 10 Easiest Programs to Get In To
These are the universities with the highest acceptance rates. Heading the list is Wyoming, who accept 96% of applications.
Note that Utah in particular has a small PE department.
| Name | Student Faculty Ratio | Reten. Rate | Grad. Rate | Total PE Degrees Awarded | Student Pop. | % Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 15 | 76 | 55 | 64 | 12820 | 96 |
| Kansas | 17 | 80 | 61 | 28 | 27180 | 93 |
| Montana Tech | 15 | 71 | 38 | 68 | 2085 | 89 |
| Missouri | 18 | 86 | 65 | 93 | 8640 | 88 |
| West Virginia | 21 | 77 | 57 | 95 | 29175 | 86 |
| Texas Permian Basin | 18 | 69 | 40 | 22 | 5560 | 84 |
| Texas Kingsville | 20 | 64 | 33 | 25 | 13246 | 82 |
| North Dakota | 19 | 80 | 54 | 18 | 14906 | 82 |
| Utah | 17 | 89 | 64 | 5 | 31515 | 81 |
| Oklahoma | 18 | 85 | 66 | 156 | 27261 | 78 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best petroleum engineering university?
According to our research the best petroleum engineering school is the University of Texas at Austin.
Which country is the best to study petroleum engineering?
The best country to study petroleum engineering is the USA, thanks to its long history and advanced technology.
What schools offer petroleum engineering?
A complete list of the schools that offer petroleum engineering is on our website.
Is petroleum engineering a growing field?
Yes, petroleum engineering is a growing field. The number of related jobs is expected to grow 15 percent by 2026.
