by our College Data Analytics Team
[Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the early-career earnings of their petroleum engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
The petroleum engineering program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we built our Highest Paid Petroleum Engineering Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose petroleum engineering degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Petroleum Engineering Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose petroleum engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Tulsa, our #1 for petroleum engineering graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Tulsa earn a median of about $104,091 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $121,692.
Texas Tech University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in petroleum engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Texas Tech University is a public school located in the city of Lubbock. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of about $116,140 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school located in the city of College Station. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station typically earn about $125,028 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school located in the suburb of Golden. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from Colorado School Of Mines make a median of around $105,804 per year.
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Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #6 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earn a median of about $116,301 a year early in their careers.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #7 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks typically earn about $87,042 annually.
Marietta College earned the #8 position for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Marietta College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,979.
University Of Wyoming placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,773.
University Of North Dakota earned the #10 position for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of North Dakota typically earn about $95,721 annually.
West Virginia University came in at #11 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from West Virginia University make a median of around $92,874 per year.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from Missouri University Of Science And Technology make a median of around $91,688 per year.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus make a median of around $100,791 per year.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #14 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin make a median of around $99,276 per year.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette came in at #15 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,398.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,513.
University Of Houston ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,652.
University Of Kansas landed the #18 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,860.
Texas A And M University Kingsville came in at #19 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public institution. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of about $43,257 a year early in their careers.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology came in at #20 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Socorro, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public institution. Petroleum Engineering graduates of New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology earn a median of about $42,325 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries petroleum engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 20 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
