by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Petroleum Engineering explores Petroleum Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems For Locating, Extracting, Processing And Refining Crude Petroleum And Natural Gas, Including Prospecting Instruments And Equipment, Mining And Drilling Systems, Processing And Refining Systems And Facilities, Storage Facilities, Transportation Systems, And Related Environmental And Safety Systems. Continue reading for the important information every general petroleum engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general petroleum engineering programs.
Across the country, general petroleum engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 755 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Petroleum Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 28 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general petroleum engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general petroleum engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Petroleum Engineering develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general petroleum engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a general petroleum engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general petroleum engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general petroleum engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 489 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 183 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 82 |
People currently working in careers related to general petroleum engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 34.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 13.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general petroleum engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general petroleum engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general petroleum engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general petroleum engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Petroleum Engineers | 432,291 | 13.1% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general petroleum engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,881 |
| 4 years | $97,016 |
| 5 years | $103,379 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general petroleum engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general petroleum engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineers | $137,336 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
With 28 different general petroleum engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general petroleum engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
