Choosing from the best colleges for petroleum engineering can shape your entire career. The right program offers rigorous coursework, hands-on labs, and direct access to companies that hire drilling, reservoir, and production engineers. The strongest schools also sit near major energy basins, so internships and co-op placements are often a short drive from campus.

This 2027 guide ranks the 25 best petroleum engineering schools in the United States. Whether you want the best college for petroleum engineering in America or a smaller program with close faculty mentorship, you will find program highlights, location advantages,es and what each school does best. The list is updated for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 admissions cycles.

Key Takeaways

• The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the Colorado School of Mines lead our 2027 ranking.
• The University of Oklahoma ranked No. 4 nationally among undergraduate petroleum engineering programs in the 2026 U.S. News rankings.
• Petroleum engineers earned a median of $144,910 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Seven of the 25 schools are in Texas, and the rest are spread across energy states from Alaska to Pennsylvania.

How We Ranked the Best Petroleum Engineering Programs

We weighed four factors: program reputation and published rankings; the strength of industry connections and internship pipelines; the range of specialties taught (drilling, reservoir, production, natural gas, and emerging energy); and location relative to active oil and gas regions. We also weighted ABET accreditation because accredited degrees are the standard route to professional licensure and most employers prefer them. We include smaller and newer programs where we can confirm a degree is offered, and we note when you should check a program’s current status.

Rankings reflect our editorial judgment using public data from the schools, U.S. News, and other published sources. Always confirm admission requirements and accreditation directly with each program before you apply.

Petroleum Engineer Salary and Job Outlook

Petroleum engineering remains one of the highest-paying undergraduate majors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $144,910 for petroleum engineers in May 2025, with a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry requirement. The occupation employed about 18,500 people in 2025, and BLS projects 2% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, with roughly 1,000 openings a year.

Those numbers explain why school choice matters. The field is small and cyclical, so employers recruit heavily from a handful of well-connected programs. Schools with strong industry partnerships, active Society of Petroleum Engineers chapters, and paid co-op options give graduates a real edge when hiring tightens.

The Best College For Petroleum Engineering 2027

 

1. University of Texas at Austin

Students at the University of Texas at Austin benefit from a nationally renowned curriculum that balances rigorous theory with field work. The program is known for reservoir simulation, enhanced oil recovery, and unconventional reservoirs, and it integrates geoscience throughout the degree. Its graduate program has ranked at the top of U.S. News rankings, giving undergraduates access to the same faculty and research networks.

The program partners with energy leaders in Houston, offering internships that turn classroom learning into professional projects. Graduates gain skills in reservoir modeling, drilling techniques, and sustainability practices, and the alumni network spans major oil companies, helping new engineers secure high-impact roles right after graduation. If you are weighing campus life too, our guide to the best college dorms in Texas covers where you could live.

 

2. Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University offers one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive petroleum engineering programs, covering drilling, completions, production, and artificial lift. Many courses end with industry-sponsored design projects, and the Engineering Career Services team connects students with internships in exploration, production, and reservoir management.

Hands-on labs simulate real-world drilling and completion scenarios, and Aggie researchers partner with national labs to study enhanced recovery methods and carbon capture. The Society of Petroleum Engineers student chapter hosts career fairs that draw recruiters from top firms, and supportive faculty mentor undergraduates through research projects that often lead to co-authored publications.

 

3. Colorado School of Mines

The Colorado School of Mines offers an elite petroleum engineering education with a subsurface focus and a strong research culture. Students access state-of-the-art rock mechanics and reservoir simulation labs, and industry consortia regularly sponsor student projects, providing real datasets for analysis.

The department’s research centers focus on CO₂ sequestration and geothermal energy, giving undergraduates exposure to emerging trends in green energy alongside traditional oil and gas. Student chapters of professional societies organize technical workshops that sharpen presentation and teamwork skills, and Mines graduates earn top positions at major energy firms and innovative startups alike.

 

4. University of Oklahoma

Students in the University of Oklahoma petroleum engineering program develop skills through hands-on labs and field courses. OU ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 3 among public universities for undergraduate petroleum engineering in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, and its graduate program ranked No. 6. The curriculum covers drilling design, reservoir evaluation and production systems, with well control and measurement-while-drilling technology built into the coursework.

Partnerships with regional energy companies enable internships that strengthen professional networks. Faculty researchers lead projects in enhanced oil recovery and unconventional resources, offering undergraduates opportunities to contribute to published studies. Graduates exit with strong technical expertise and industry credentials that appeal to employers across America’s energy landscape.

 

5. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University’s petroleum engineering program emphasizes practical training and close faculty mentorship, with particular strength in drilling, cementing, and well integrity. Undergraduates operate drilling simulators and reservoir modeling software in advanced, field-focused labs.

Lubbock sits on the edge of the Permian Basin, so the university collaborates with Permian Basin operators to provide summer internships that immerse students in active field operations. Faculty research spans hydraulic fracturing efficiency and smart well technologies, and strong alumni connections in Midland and Houston help new engineers secure positions with leading exploration and service firms.

 

6. Pennsylvania State University

Penn State integrates petroleum engineering coursework with hands-on research through its Energy Resources Center, with particular strengths in natural gas engineering and production near the Appalachian Basin. Students analyze real reservoir data and design production strategies using industry-standard tools.

Faculty projects include carbon sequestration and enhanced recovery pilot tests, and cooperative education placements let undergraduates apply classroom theory to well completions and reservoir surveillance. Career services coordinate on-campus recruitment by top oil companies, and graduates leave ready for technical and leadership roles in the energy sector.

 

7. University of Houston

The University of Houston offers a petroleum engineering program in America’s energy capital, and its undergraduate program earned ABET accreditation in 2015. Students access state-of-the-art labs in fluid properties and well logging, with coursework that includes offshore systems and brownfield optimization.

Internships with Houston’s largest operators, service firms, and technology providers ensure undergraduates launch into careers with real industry experience. Faculty focus on reservoir characterization and digital oilfield research, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers student chapter hosts networking events that provide direct connections to employers. Graduates secure roles in reservoir engineering, project management, and technical sales.

 

8. Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University offers a petroleum engineering program that integrates coursework with Gulf of Mexico relevance, specializing in offshore and production operations. The program has ranked among the top five in U.S. News undergraduate rankings in the past year and is one of the largest programs in the country by enrollment.

Faculty lead research in artificial lift, enhanced oil recovery, and deepwater drilling technologies. Cooperative education placements with Louisiana operators and service firms strengthen professional skills, and the campus hosts energy symposiums that attract industry leaders for networking. Graduates secure roles in reservoir management, completion design, and project engineering across the energy industry.

 

9. University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa’s petroleum engineering curriculum centers on reservoir simulation, drilling engineering, and production technology, with well-known strengths in flow assurance, multiphase transport, and artificial lift. The program has been named among the top 100 petroleum engineering programs worldwide.

Students use virtual-reality drilling simulators and advanced analytics tools, and faculty engage undergraduates in research on hydraulic fracturing optimization and carbon management. Internships with Tulsa-area operators provide exposure to both onshore and offshore work, and the department’s career day draws recruiters from exploration and service companies. As a private university, Tulsa costs more than the public schools above, so check financial aid options.

 

10. Montana Technological University

Montana Technological University’s petroleum engineering program combines core engineering courses with geology fieldwork and hands-on lab exercises. One of the longest-running specialist programs in the Mountain West, it sits in Butte and draws students who want a small campus with strong employer relationships.

Students learn reservoir characterization and drilling mechanics through lab exercises and site visits. Faculty research includes unconventional recovery and water management studies, and cooperative placements give undergraduates practical experience in production optimization. Student organizations host technical competitions that sharpen design and teamwork capabilities, and career services link students with employers across the Rocky Mountain and northern plains energy regions.

 

11. University of Texas Permian Basin

The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering in Odessa, in the heart of America’s largest oil play. The program focuses on hands-on engineering education tailored to Permian operations, with students operating drilling simulators and conducting reservoir analyses in modern labs.

Faculty research encompasses enhanced recovery, fracturing optimization, and environmental stewardship, and internships with Permian operators immerse undergraduates in real-world production and completion activities. The campus hosts industry panels that connect students directly with energy recruiters, so graduates leave with technical know-how and strong professional relationships that pave the way for roles in exploration and production.

 

12. University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming’s petroleum engineering program combines rigorous field education with advanced research. Students travel to nearby formations to collect rock samples and run pump tests, while campus labs focus on enhanced recovery, reservoir geomechanics, and fluid-shale interactions.

Faculty partner with regional operators on CO₂ injection and unconventional reservoir studies, enabling undergraduates to co-author publications. Career services host energy summits that connect students with leading firms in Denver and Midland, helping graduates build the technical expertise and adaptability needed for both conventional and emerging energy projects.

 

13. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota’s petroleum engineering B.S. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Based in Grand Forks, in the state home to the Bakken formation, the program trains students for cold-region operations and unconventional resources, and its mission is to meet energy workforce demand in North Dakota and beyond.

Students learn drilling mechanics and reservoir evaluation in campus labs, while faculty research focuses on unconventional recovery methods and environmental impact assessments. Cooperative placements with regional operators give field experience in hydraulic fracturing and production optimization, and alumni support networks help graduates transition into careers across America’s energy basins.

 

14. West Virginia University

West Virginia University’s petroleum engineering program emphasizes developing Appalachian basin resources and conventional reservoir studies. Students learn drilling design, reservoir engineering, and production operations in Morgantown’s advanced laboratories.

Faculty research covers coalbed methane extraction and unconventional reservoirs, and cooperative education placements with regional operators give undergraduates field exposure in fracturing and well testing. Student chapters host technical workshops that build teamwork and presentation skills, and alumni networks in Pittsburgh, Houston,n and Morgantown support career transitions.

 

15. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology, in Rolla, delivers a petroleum engineering curriculum with a strong emphasis on modeling and simulation. Students use advanced software in dedicated labs to analyze reservoir characteristics, and faculty research spans hydraulic fracturing, CO₂ sequestration, and geothermal applications.

Cooperative education programs place undergraduates with midcontinent operators and service firms, and student chapters host technical competitions that sharpen field and design skills. Graduates earn roles in reservoir engineering, well completions, and data analytics, and the career center connects new engineers with employers across America’s energy regions.

 

16. Marietta College

Marietta College in Ohio offers a petroleum engineering program that combines core engineering courses with field geology and reservoir analysis. It is one of the best-known small-college options for the major, with a dedicated petroleum engineering department.

Students take field trips to Appalachian basins to collect data and test fluids, and faculty research focuses on reservoir characterization and unconventional recovery methods. Internships with regional operators provide hands-on experience in drilling operations and well completions, and alumni networks support new engineers pursuing roles in exploration, production, and reservoir management.

 

17. University of Alaska Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a petroleum engineering program focused on Arctic resource development and cold climate operations. Students operate pilot-scale rigs and conduct fluid mechanics studies in campus labs, and faculty research focuses on the challenges of drilling into permafrost and simulating reservoirs under extreme conditions.

Internships with Alaska operators give hands-on experience in remote field camps and offshore platforms. Graduates leave with specialized technical expertise and resilience employers value on challenging projects, and alumni support and industry partnerships help new engineers secure roles across America’s energy frontiers.

 

18. New Mexico Tech

New Mexico Tech offers a focused petroleum engineering curriculum that blends geology, drilling, and production courses. The small department size ensures close interaction with faculty leading research in geothermal energy and unconventional reservoirs, and students participate in field trips to learn well logging techniques firsthand.

Undergraduates publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at professional conferences. Graduates earn roles in reservoir engineering, production optimization, and drilling design across the Southwest and national oil hubs, and alumni support translates into mentoring and job leads.

 

19. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a petroleum engineering curriculum that focuses on Gulf Coast operations and deepwater oil and gas production. Students learn reservoir evaluation techniques and operate drilling equipment in campus labs, and faculty research spans subsea engineering and enhanced oil recovery.

Internships with Louisiana operators and service providers give hands-on experience in field completions and production surveillance. On-campus career fairs connect students with recruiters from major energy firms, and alumni networks support smooth transitions into the workforce.

 

20. The University of Kansas

The University of Kansas delivers a petroleum engineering track that pairs core engineering courses with mineral economics and regulatory studies. Students conduct pore-scale modeling and artificial lift research in campus laboratories, and industry partnerships fund senior design projects that tackle real-world challenges in the Midcontinent region.

Cooperative education in Tulsa and Wichita deepens students’ technical skills and professional networks. Graduates enter roles in reservoir management, drilling engineering, and project oversight, and the department’s career fairs attract recruiters seeking well-rounded candidates with strong analytical and communication abilities.

 

21. Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University offers the state’s only bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering, housed in the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering. The program restarted in fall 2015 and graduated its first class in spring 2018; because petroleum and chemical engineering share many fundamentals, students receive broad training that keeps their career options open.

Faculty from both departments combine industry practice with research, and an SPE student chapter gives undergraduates a direct line to industry events and recruiters. Graduates leave with practical experience and connections to service companies and operators across America’s energy basins.

 

22. Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers petroleum and natural gas-focused engineering study through its College of Engineering, centered on Gulf Coast and Permian Basin work. Students learn drilling design, reservoir evaluation, and production optimization in advanced labs.

Faculty research spans hydraulic fracturing efficiency and carbon capture, and internships with regional operators immerse undergraduates in real-world field operations. Career services connect students with recruiters from leading firms in Houston and Midland, setting the stage for successful careers in engineering. Confirm the exact degree title with the department when you apply.

 

23. Saint Francis University

Saint Francis University, in Loretto, Pennsylvania, offers a four-year Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program founded in 2014, one of the few such degrees at a small private university. Class sizes are small, with roughly 15 graduates expected per year, so students work closely with faculty.

The program blends classroom learning with field exposure in Appalachian shale plays, including drilling safety workshops and production testing labs. Internships with regional operators give undergraduates real-world exposure to well completions and reservoir management, and alumni engagement delivers mentorship and job leads. Check the program’s current ABET status when you apply.

 

24. Slippery Rock University

Slippery Rock University’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program, first offered in 2016, is ABET-accredited, according to the university. It focuses on regional resource studies and foundational engineering skills, with students conducting drilling-fluid tests and reservoir simulations in campus labs.

Faculty research includes unconventional recovery and carbon management in Appalachian basins, and cooperative placements with Pennsylvania operators give undergraduates field experience in well completions and production operations. Career services facilitate on-campus networking events that bring recruiters from exploration and service companies to meet engineering talent.

 

25. Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M International University, in Laredo, received state approval for a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 2020, making it the newest program on this list. The program is tuned to border-region energy challenges, with students learning drilling design, reservoir evaluation, and production operations.

Internships in South Texas oil fields and nearby Gulf operations provide hands-on experience, and the small department size ensures personal mentorship and project opportunities. Local industry connections in Laredo and Houston help alumni secure positions in exploration, production, and service sectors. Because the program is new, confirm its accreditation status before you enroll.

How to Choose a Petroleum Engineering Program

• Check accreditation. Look for ABET accreditation of the petroleum engineering degree itself, since it affects licensure and employer preferences.
• Look at where the school sits. Programs near the Permian, Gulf Coast, Bakken, or Appalachian basins offer easier access to internships and co-ops.
• Ask about co-op and internship placement rates, and whether employers recruit on campus.
• Compare cost and aid. Public in-state options such as Texas Tech, Wyoming, and North Dakota often cost far less than private programs.
• Know the admissions bar. Acceptance varies widely, from highly selective programs like UT Austin to more open regional schools, so use our guide to how to calculate your GPA before you apply.
• International students should also compare visa support and OPT employer networks, since many petroleum engineering jobs sit in the Gulf Coast and Permian regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for petroleum engineering?

The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the Colorado School of Mines lead our 2027 ranking. The University of Oklahoma ranked fourth in the 2026 U.S. News undergraduate rankings, and the best fit for you depends on cost, location, and your desired specialty.

How much do petroleum engineers make?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $144,910 for petroleum engineers as of May 2025. Pay varies by employer, location, and the oil price cycle.

Is petroleum engineering a good major in 2027?

It pays very well, but it is a small and cyclical field. BLS projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year, so graduates from well-connected programs with strong internship records have the advantage.

Do I need an ABET-accredited petroleum engineering degree?

Most employers prefer it, and ABET accreditation is the usual path to a professional engineering license. Always confirm that the specific petroleum engineering program, not just the university, is accredited.

Which states have the most petroleum engineering programs?

Texas has the most, with seven of the 25 schools on our list. Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania also have multiple programs, and smaller schools in Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota serve nearby basins.

The Best Colleges for Petroleum Engineering 2027

Selecting the right program can significantly shape your career path in petroleum engineering. This list of the 25 best colleges for petroleum engineering in 2027 highlights institutions that combine academic excellence, hands-on training, and strong industry connections. As you explore each campus, consider your goals in research, field work, and sustainability. Visit individual program pages to learn about application requirements, scholarship opportunities, and campus culture, and connect with admissions teams or attend virtual information sessions to secure your place at the forefront of energy innovation. For more career-focused rankings, see our guides to the best colleges for civil engineering and the best colleges in America.