[General Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/general-petroleum-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for general petroleum engineering students.
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Finding the Best Value General Petroleum Engineering School for You
The general petroleum engineering program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in general petroleum engineering, no school beat The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin this year. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,607, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $24,500. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $61,299 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general petroleum engineering will find it at University Of Wyoming, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Students borrow a median of $24,638 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $66,221. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #3 place for general petroleum engineering. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $68,913 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,950 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $69,670. Set against $28,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #5 place for general petroleum engineering. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,366 in student loans. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $52,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,366 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #6 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,806 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $49,781 early in their careers. Set against $22,806 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earned the #7 position for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public school located in the town of Butte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $69,212. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $61,223 early in their careers. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Marietta College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Located in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,652 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $82,205. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #10 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,239 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $86,761. That is a strong return on a $17,239 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota came in at #11 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $73,821. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $56,605. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #13 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $120,587. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Texas Tech University earned the #14 position for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,090 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $80,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,090 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Tulsa landed the #15 spot for general petroleum engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,546. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $66,166. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Tulsa admits about 62% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #16 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $77,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #17 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
General Petroleum Engineering Related Rankings by Major
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to General Petroleum Engineering. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[General Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/general-petroleum-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
