100 Best colleges for Petroleum Engineering in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Petroleum Engineering. A graph of 2.35M citations received by 89.9K academic papers made by 227 universities in the United States 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

Texas | Austin

For Petroleum Engineering

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

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

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Petroleum Engineering

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

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

3. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Petroleum Engineering

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

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

4. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Petroleum Engineering

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

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

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Petroleum Engineering

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

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

6. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Petroleum Engineering

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

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

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Petroleum Engineering

#9 in North America

#14 in the World

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

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Petroleum Engineering

#10 in North America

#17 in the World

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

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Petroleum Engineering

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

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

10. University of Tulsa

Oklahoma State | Tulsa

For Petroleum Engineering

#12 in North America

#19 in the World

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

11. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Petroleum Engineering

#14 in North America

#24 in the World

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

12. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#15 in North America

#25 in the World

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

13. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Petroleum Engineering

#16 in North America

#27 in the World

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

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Petroleum Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

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

15. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Petroleum Engineering

#18 in North America

#30 in the World

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

16. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Petroleum Engineering

#19 in North America

#32 in the World

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

17. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Petroleum Engineering

#20 in North America

#38 in the World

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

18. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#21 in North America

#45 in the World

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

19. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Petroleum Engineering

#22 in North America

#46 in the World

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

20. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Petroleum Engineering

#23 in North America

#47 in the World

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

21. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Petroleum Engineering

#25 in North America

#53 in the World

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

22. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Petroleum Engineering

#26 in North America

#56 in the World

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

23. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Petroleum Engineering

#27 in North America

#57 in the World

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

24. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Petroleum Engineering

#29 in North America

#63 in the World

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

25. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Petroleum Engineering

#30 in North America

#64 in the World

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

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Petroleum Engineering

#31 in North America

#66 in the World

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

27. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico | Socorro

For Petroleum Engineering

#32 in North America

#67 in the World

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

28. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Petroleum Engineering

#34 in North America

#72 in the World

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

29. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Petroleum Engineering

#35 in North America

#73 in the World

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

30. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Petroleum Engineering

#36 in North America

#74 in the World

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

31. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#37 in North America

#75 in the World

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

32. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Petroleum Engineering

#38 in North America

#77 in the World

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

33. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Petroleum Engineering

#39 in North America

#80 in the World

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

34. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Petroleum Engineering

#40 in North America

#83 in the World

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

35. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Petroleum Engineering

#41 in North America

#85 in the World

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

36. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Petroleum Engineering

#42 in North America

#93 in the World

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

37. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Petroleum Engineering

#43 in North America

#94 in the World

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

38. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Petroleum Engineering

#44 in North America

#98 in the World

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

39. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Petroleum Engineering

#46 in North America

#108 in the World

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

40. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Petroleum Engineering

#47 in North America

#110 in the World

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

41. University of North Dakota

North Dakota | Grand Forks

For Petroleum Engineering

#48 in North America

#113 in the World

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

42. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Petroleum Engineering

#49 in North America

#115 in the World

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

43. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Petroleum Engineering

#50 in North America

#126 in the World

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

44. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Petroleum Engineering

#51 in North America

#130 in the World

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

45. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Petroleum Engineering

#52 in North America

#132 in the World

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

46. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Petroleum Engineering

#53 in North America

#133 in the World

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

47. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Petroleum Engineering

#54 in North America

#134 in the World

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

48. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Petroleum Engineering

#55 in North America

#137 in the World

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

49. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#56 in North America

#149 in the World

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

50. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Petroleum Engineering

#58 in North America

#155 in the World

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

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Petroleum Engineering

#59 in North America

#160 in the World

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

52. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Petroleum Engineering

#60 in North America

#161 in the World

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

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Petroleum Engineering

#61 in North America

#164 in the World

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

54. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Petroleum Engineering

#62 in North America

#169 in the World

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

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Petroleum Engineering

#63 in North America

#173 in the World

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

56. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Petroleum Engineering

#64 in North America

#175 in the World

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

57. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Petroleum Engineering

#65 in North America

#179 in the World

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

58. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Petroleum Engineering

#66 in North America

#185 in the World

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

59. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Petroleum Engineering

#67 in North America

#186 in the World

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

60. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Petroleum Engineering

#68 in North America

#187 in the World

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

61. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Petroleum Engineering

#70 in North America

#190 in the World

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

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Petroleum Engineering

#71 in North America

#195 in the World

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

63. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Petroleum Engineering

#72 in North America

#196 in the World

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

64. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Petroleum Engineering

#73 in North America

#203 in the World

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

65. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Louisiana | Lafayette

For Petroleum Engineering

#74 in North America

#210 in the World

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

66. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Petroleum Engineering

#75 in North America

#212 in the World

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

67. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#76 in North America

#217 in the World

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

68. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Petroleum Engineering

#77 in North America

#223 in the World

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

69. SUNY College of Optometry

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#78 in North America

#226 in the World

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

70. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Petroleum Engineering

#79 in North America

#232 in the World

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

71. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Petroleum Engineering

#80 in North America

#235 in the World

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

72. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Petroleum Engineering

#82 in North America

#247 in the World

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

73. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Petroleum Engineering

#83 in North America

#251 in the World

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

74. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Petroleum Engineering

#85 in North America

#264 in the World

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

75. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Petroleum Engineering

#87 in North America

#270 in the World

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

76. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Petroleum Engineering

#89 in North America

#297 in the World

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

77. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Petroleum Engineering

#90 in North America

#301 in the World

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

78. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Petroleum Engineering

#91 in North America

#310 in the World

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

79. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Petroleum Engineering

#92 in North America

#313 in the World

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

80. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Petroleum Engineering

#93 in North America

#314 in the World

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

81. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Petroleum Engineering

#94 in North America

#315 in the World

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

82. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Petroleum Engineering

#95 in North America

#316 in the World

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

83. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Petroleum Engineering

#96 in North America

#320 in the World

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

84. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Petroleum Engineering

#97 in North America

#325 in the World

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

85. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Petroleum Engineering

#98 in North America

#326 in the World

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

86. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#99 in North America

#327 in the World

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

87. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Petroleum Engineering

#101 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

88. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Petroleum Engineering

#102 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

89. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Petroleum Engineering

#104 in North America

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Petroleum Engineering

#105 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

91. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#106 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Petroleum Engineering

#107 in North America

#361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

93. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Petroleum Engineering

#108 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Petroleum Engineering

#109 in North America

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

95. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Petroleum Engineering

#111 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

96. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Petroleum Engineering

#112 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

97. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Petroleum Engineering

#113 in North America

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

98. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Petroleum Engineering

#114 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

99. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Petroleum Engineering

#115 in North America

#381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

100. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Petroleum Engineering

#117 in North America

#390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

The best cities to study Petroleum Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Austin, Stanford, College Station, and Golden.