Best Universities for Petroleum Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Petroleum Engineering. A graph of 2.72M citations received by 107K academic papers made by 258 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Petroleum Engineering

#1 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#2 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

3. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Petroleum Engineering

#1 in Canada

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

4. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Petroleum Engineering

#3 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. Colorado School of Mines

United States | Colorado

For Petroleum Engineering

#4 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 98%

6. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Petroleum Engineering

#2 in Canada

#10 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Petroleum Engineering

#5 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

8. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Petroleum Engineering

#6 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

9. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#7 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

10. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Petroleum Engineering

#8 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

11. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Petroleum Engineering

#9 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

12. University of Tulsa

United States | Oklahoma State

For Petroleum Engineering

#10 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1377
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,095

13. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Petroleum Engineering

#3 in Canada

#23 in the World

Founded: 1957

14. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Petroleum Engineering

#11 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

15. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Petroleum Engineering

#12 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

16. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Petroleum Engineering

#13 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

17. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Petroleum Engineering

#14 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

18. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#15 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

19. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Petroleum Engineering

#16 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

20. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#17 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

21. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Petroleum Engineering

#18 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

22. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#19 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

23. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#20 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

24. University of Regina

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Petroleum Engineering

#4 in Canada

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

25. Texas Tech University

United States | Texas

For Petroleum Engineering

#21 in the United States

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

26. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Petroleum Engineering

#22 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

27. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Petroleum Engineering

#23 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

28. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Petroleum Engineering

#5 in Canada

#61 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

29. University of Wyoming

United States | Wyoming

For Petroleum Engineering

#24 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,212
Enrollment: 10,813

30. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Petroleum Engineering

#25 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

31. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Petroleum Engineering

#26 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

32. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

United States | New Mexico

For Petroleum Engineering

#27 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

33. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#6 in Canada

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

34. West Virginia University

United States | West Virginia

For Petroleum Engineering

#28 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

35. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Petroleum Engineering

#29 in the United States

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

36. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Petroleum Engineering

#30 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

37. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Petroleum Engineering

#31 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

38. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Petroleum Engineering

#32 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

39. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Petroleum Engineering

#33 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

40. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Petroleum Engineering

#34 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

41. Missouri University of Science and Technology

United States | Missouri

For Petroleum Engineering

#35 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

42. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Petroleum Engineering

#36 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

43. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Petroleum Engineering

#37 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

44. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Petroleum Engineering

#38 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

45. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Canada | Newfoundland and Labrador

For Petroleum Engineering

#7 in Canada

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

46. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Petroleum Engineering

#39 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

47. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Petroleum Engineering

#40 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

48. University of North Dakota

United States | North Dakota

For Petroleum Engineering

#41 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,663
Enrollment: 15,019

49. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Petroleum Engineering

#42 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

50. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Petroleum Engineering

#43 in the United States

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

51. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Petroleum Engineering

#44 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

52. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Petroleum Engineering

#45 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

53. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#46 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

54. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Petroleum Engineering

#47 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

55. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Petroleum Engineering

#48 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

56. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Petroleum Engineering

#49 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

57. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Petroleum Engineering

#8 in Canada

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

58. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Petroleum Engineering

#50 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

59. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Petroleum Engineering

#51 in the United States

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

60. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Petroleum Engineering

#52 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

61. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#53 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

62. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Petroleum Engineering

#54 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

63. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Petroleum Engineering

#55 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

64. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Petroleum Engineering

#56 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

65. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Petroleum Engineering

#57 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

66. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Petroleum Engineering

#58 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

67. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Petroleum Engineering

#59 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

68. Marymount University

United States | Virginia

For Petroleum Engineering

#60 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

69. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Petroleum Engineering

#9 in Canada

#189 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

70. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Petroleum Engineering

#61 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

71. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Petroleum Engineering

#62 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

72. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Petroleum Engineering

#63 in the United States

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

73. University of Alaska Fairbanks

United States | Alaska

For Petroleum Engineering

#64 in the United States

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $10,424
Enrollment: 6,893

74. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

United States | Louisiana

For Petroleum Engineering

#65 in the United States

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 96%

75. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Petroleum Engineering

#66 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

76. New York University

United States | New York State

For Petroleum Engineering

#67 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

77. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Petroleum Engineering

#68 in the United States

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

78. SUNY College of Optometry

United States | New York State

For Petroleum Engineering

#69 in the United States

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 400
Male:Female: 23:77
Founded: 1971

79. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Petroleum Engineering

#70 in the United States

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

80. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Petroleum Engineering

#71 in the United States

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

81. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Petroleum Engineering

#10 in Canada

#238 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

82. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Petroleum Engineering

#72 in the United States

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

83. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Petroleum Engineering

#73 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

84. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Petroleum Engineering

#11 in Canada

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

85. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Petroleum Engineering

#74 in the United States

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

86. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Petroleum Engineering

#12 in Canada

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

87. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Petroleum Engineering

#75 in the United States

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

88. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#13 in Canada

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

89. Oklahoma State University

United States | Oklahoma State

For Petroleum Engineering

#76 in the United States

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Petroleum Engineering

#77 in the United States

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

91. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Petroleum Engineering

#78 in the United States

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

92. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Petroleum Engineering

#79 in the United States

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

93. University of Dayton

United States | Ohio

For Petroleum Engineering

#80 in the United States

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,794

94. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Petroleum Engineering

#81 in the United States

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

95. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Petroleum Engineering

#82 in the United States

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

96. Kansas State University

United States | Kansas State

For Petroleum Engineering

#83 in the United States

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

97. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Petroleum Engineering

#84 in the United States

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

98. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Petroleum Engineering

#85 in the United States

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

99. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Petroleum Engineering

#86 in the United States

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Petroleum Engineering

#14 in Canada

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Aerospace Engineering864

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Civil Engineering627

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Geotechnical Engineering556

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Mechanical Engineering1111

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1067

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Systems Engineering613

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321