Petroleum Engineering programs
CIP 1425 · Engineering · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
19 institutions report graduate earnings for Petroleum Engineering programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $103,008 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23× and 95% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, all 20 programs with a benchmark clear the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026).
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Master's | $192,907 n=43 | 100% 1yr | $27,316 | 0.14× | Above +194% | — |
| 2 | University of TulsaOK · Bachelor's | $145,353 n=32 | 96% 5yr | $26,950 | 0.18× | Above +310% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at AustinTX · Bachelor's | $139,867 n=54 | 89% 5yr | $17,239 | 0.12× | Above +291% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Texas Tech UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $139,864 n=79 | 100% | $24,850 | 0.18× | Above +291% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK · Bachelor's | $123,416 n=77 | 92% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.19× | Above +249% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Colorado School of MinesCO · Bachelor's | $116,691 n=101 | 96% 5yr | $26,500 | 0.23× | Above +181% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $114,686 n=122 | 98% 5yr | $18,969 | 0.17× | Above +221% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $113,669 n=56 | 100% | $22,837 | 0.20× | Above +202% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Montana Technological UniversityMT · Bachelor's | $106,076 n=64 | 91% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.26× | Above +207% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA · Bachelor's | $103,421 n=156 | 89% 5yr | $24,211 | 0.23× | Above +197% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | University of Louisiana at LafayetteLA · Bachelor's | $102,594 n=103 | 97% 5yr | $20,500 | 0.20× | Above +194% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMO · Bachelor's | $102,405 n=54 | 96% 5yr | $27,750 | 0.27× | Above +186% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | University of WyomingWY · Bachelor's | $100,911 n=53 | 95% 5yr | $24,188 | 0.24× | Above +150% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | University of North DakotaND · Bachelor's | $99,932 n=45 | 88% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.27× | Above +144% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Marietta CollegeOH · Bachelor's | $99,295 n=35 | 94% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.27× | Above +170% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | University of KansasKS · Bachelor's | $97,527 n=31 | 100% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.27× | Above +168% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNM · Bachelor's | $95,234 n=43 | — | $24,000 | 0.25× | Above +192% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | University of HoustonTX · Bachelor's | $94,651 n=200 | 85% 5yr | $22,233 | 0.23× | Above +165% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $91,142 n=67 | 95% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.28× | Above +159% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Texas A&M University-KingsvilleTX · Bachelor's | $77,469 n=23 | — | $24,396 | 0.32× | Above +117% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $127,275 | 6 |
States with at least 3 reporting Petroleum Engineering programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Petroleum Engineering programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Petroleum Engineering programs in this dataset are Texas A&M University-College Station ($192,907), University of Tulsa ($145,353), The University of Texas at Austin ($139,867). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Petroleum Engineering programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 0 of the 20 Petroleum Engineering programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.