Best Petroleum Engineering colleges in the U.S. 2025

Petroleum engineers must master mathematics and the sciences -- physics, chemistry and geology -- in order to locate, extract, process, refine, and transport crude petroleum and natural gas for the earth?s energy needs. Math and science are important, but a great deal of computer knowledge is also required due to the increasing reliance on technology. A petroleum engineering degree will prepare individuals to handle the complex tasks of locating and analyzing reserves and obtaining oil through drilling and other mediums.Students complete a rigorous curriculum in areas that include hydrocarbon safety, oil and gas law, drilling, petroleum geology, oil and gas exploration and production, reservoir operations, and petroleum and natural gas production. Petroleum engineering also involves economic evaluation, data management operations and analysis, finance and accounting, environmental assessments, and safety issues. Training will provide individuals with the skills needed to offer technical advice to achieve economical and satisfactory progress, devise methods to improve oil and gas well production, and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Petroleum engineers work in different fields of expertise: economics, reservoir engineering, completions/production engineering, and drilling engineering. And due to the nation?s increased interest in going green, motivated petroleum engineers are always needed to discover new, more environmentally sound procedures.

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Best Petroleum Engineering colleges in the U.S. for 2025

Stanford University
Stanford, CA
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Stanford University offers 3 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 3 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 2 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Master's degree.

University of Southern California offers 3 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 13 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 9 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

The University of Texas at Austin offers 4 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 94 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 67 Bachelor's degrees, 16 Doctoral degrees, and 11 Master's degrees.

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Texas A & M University-College Station offers 6 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 120 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 68 Bachelor's degrees, 25 Master's degrees, 15 Certificates, and 12 Doctoral degrees.

University of Tulsa offers 3 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 33 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 20 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Master's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology offers 3 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a remote town. In 2023, 16 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 11 Bachelor's degrees, and 5 Master's degrees.

University of Houston
Houston, TX

University of Houston offers 3 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 38 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 16 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Master's degrees, and 7 Doctoral degrees.

Colorado School of Mines offers 3 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 82 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 60 Bachelor's degrees, 14 Master's degrees, and 8 Doctoral degrees.

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus offers 5 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 61 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 32 Master's degrees, 23 Bachelor's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.

Missouri University of Science and Technology offers 6 Petroleum Engineering degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a remote town. In 2023, 26 Petroleum Engineering students graduated with students earning 15 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

Find local colleges with Petroleum Engineering majors in the U.S.

List of all Petroleum Engineering colleges in the U.S.

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Stanford University Logo Stanford University Stanford, CA
5/5
12 : 1 18,446
University of Southern California Logo University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
5/5
22 : 1 47,147
The University of Texas at Austin Logo The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
3/5
19 : 1 53,082
Texas A & M University-College Station Logo Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX
3/5
27 : 1 76,633
University of Tulsa Logo University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK
5/5
12 : 1 3,559