100 Best colleges for Petroleum Engineering in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 2.22M citations received by 87.8K academic papers made by 225 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: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

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: $17,998

3. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Petroleum Engineering

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

4. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Petroleum Engineering

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 97%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Petroleum Engineering

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

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

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Petroleum Engineering

#10 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Petroleum Engineering

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

10. University of Tulsa

Oklahoma State | Tulsa

For Petroleum Engineering

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $23,681

11. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Petroleum Engineering

#14 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
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: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

13. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Petroleum Engineering

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Petroleum Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

15. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Petroleum Engineering

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

16. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Petroleum Engineering

#19 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

17. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Petroleum Engineering

#20 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

18. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#21 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

19. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Petroleum Engineering

#22 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

20. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Petroleum Engineering

#23 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

21. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Petroleum Engineering

#25 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

22. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Petroleum Engineering

#26 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

23. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Petroleum Engineering

#27 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

24. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Petroleum Engineering

#29 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

25. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Petroleum Engineering

#30 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,761
Enrollment: 10,913

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Petroleum Engineering

#31 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

27. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico | Socorro

For Petroleum Engineering

#32 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 99%

28. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Petroleum Engineering

#33 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

29. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Petroleum Engineering

#35 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

30. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Petroleum Engineering

#36 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

31. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Petroleum Engineering

#37 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

32. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#38 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

33. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Petroleum Engineering

#39 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

34. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Petroleum Engineering

#40 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

35. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Petroleum Engineering

#41 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

36. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Petroleum Engineering

#42 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

37. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Petroleum Engineering

#43 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

38. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Petroleum Engineering

#44 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

39. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Petroleum Engineering

#45 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

40. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Petroleum Engineering

#46 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Petroleum Engineering

#48 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

42. University of North Dakota

North Dakota | Grand Forks

For Petroleum Engineering

#49 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $5,840
Enrollment: 14,172

43. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Petroleum Engineering

#50 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

44. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Petroleum Engineering

#51 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

45. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Petroleum Engineering

#52 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

46. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Petroleum Engineering

#53 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

47. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Petroleum Engineering

#54 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

48. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Petroleum Engineering

#55 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

49. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#56 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

50. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Petroleum Engineering

#57 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Petroleum Engineering

#59 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

52. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Petroleum Engineering

#60 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Petroleum Engineering

#61 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

54. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Petroleum Engineering

#62 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Petroleum Engineering

#63 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

56. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Petroleum Engineering

#64 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

57. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Petroleum Engineering

#65 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

58. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Petroleum Engineering

#66 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $28,147
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $28,003

59. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Petroleum Engineering

#67 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

60. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Petroleum Engineering

#68 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

61. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Petroleum Engineering

#69 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Petroleum Engineering

#70 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

63. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Petroleum Engineering

#72 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,102
Enrollment: 6,640

64. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Petroleum Engineering

#73 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

65. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Petroleum Engineering

#74 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

66. SUNY College of Optometry

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#75 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 394
Male:Female: 23:77
Founded: 1971

67. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Petroleum Engineering

#76 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Louisiana | Lafayette

For Petroleum Engineering

#77 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1188
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

69. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#78 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

70. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Petroleum Engineering

#79 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

71. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Petroleum Engineering

#80 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

72. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Petroleum Engineering

#82 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

73. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Petroleum Engineering

#83 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

74. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Petroleum Engineering

#85 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

75. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Petroleum Engineering

#86 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

76. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Petroleum Engineering

#89 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

77. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Petroleum Engineering

#90 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

78. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Petroleum Engineering

#91 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

79. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Petroleum Engineering

#92 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1283
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $31,551

80. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Petroleum Engineering

#93 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

81. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Petroleum Engineering

#94 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

82. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Petroleum Engineering

#95 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

83. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Petroleum Engineering

#96 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

84. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Petroleum Engineering

#97 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

85. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#98 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

86. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Petroleum Engineering

#99 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

87. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Petroleum Engineering

#100 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

88. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Petroleum Engineering

#101 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

89. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Petroleum Engineering

#102 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

90. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#104 in North America

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

91. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Petroleum Engineering

#105 in North America

#343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

92. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Petroleum Engineering

#106 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

93. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Petroleum Engineering

#107 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

94. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Petroleum Engineering

#108 in North America

#349 in the World

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

95. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Petroleum Engineering

#110 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Petroleum Engineering

#111 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

97. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Petroleum Engineering

#112 in North America

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

98. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Petroleum Engineering

#113 in North America

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

99. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Petroleum Engineering

#115 in North America

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,117
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1824

100. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Petroleum Engineering

#116 in North America

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

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.