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2026 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools in Texas

6 Colleges in the United States
$22,039 Avg Student Debt
$65,624 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Badge [Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for petroleum engineering students.

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2026 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools in Texas

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in petroleum engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools

1

The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin tops our 2026 list of the best value petroleum engineering schools in Texas. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates make about $61,299. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.

2

Students looking for strong value in petroleum engineering will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #2. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $23,366 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $52,295 early in their careers. Set against $23,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.

3

Students looking for strong value in petroleum engineering will find it at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $17,239 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $86,761 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.

4

Texas Tech University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for petroleum engineering graduates is $26,090. 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.

5

Texas A And M University College Station is a great value for students pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $120,587 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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