100 Best colleges for Petroleum Engineering in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 1.62M citations received by 77K academic papers made by 216 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: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Petroleum Engineering

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

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: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

4. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Petroleum Engineering

#6 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1409
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 98%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Petroleum Engineering

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

6. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Petroleum Engineering

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Petroleum Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

8. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Petroleum Engineering

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Petroleum Engineering

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

10. University of Tulsa

Oklahoma State | Tulsa

For Petroleum Engineering

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,087

11. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Petroleum Engineering

#14 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

12. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#15 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

13. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Petroleum Engineering

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

14. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Petroleum Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

15. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Petroleum Engineering

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

16. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#19 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

17. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Petroleum Engineering

#20 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Petroleum Engineering

#21 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

19. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Petroleum Engineering

#23 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

20. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Petroleum Engineering

#24 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

21. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Petroleum Engineering

#25 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $8,942
Enrollment: 11,100

22. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Petroleum Engineering

#26 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

23. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Petroleum Engineering

#27 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

24. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Petroleum Engineering

#28 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

25. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Petroleum Engineering

#29 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

26. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Petroleum Engineering

#31 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

27. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Petroleum Engineering

#32 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

28. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Petroleum Engineering

#33 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

29. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Petroleum Engineering

#34 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

30. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico | Socorro

For Petroleum Engineering

#35 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $10,293
Enrollment: 1,689

31. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#36 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

32. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Petroleum Engineering

#37 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

33. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Petroleum Engineering

#38 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

34. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Petroleum Engineering

#39 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

35. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Petroleum Engineering

#40 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

36. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Petroleum Engineering

#42 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

37. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Petroleum Engineering

#43 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

38. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Petroleum Engineering

#44 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

39. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Petroleum Engineering

#45 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

40. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Petroleum Engineering

#46 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

41. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Petroleum Engineering

#48 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

42. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Petroleum Engineering

#49 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

43. University of North Dakota

North Dakota | Grand Forks

For Petroleum Engineering

#50 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $6,387
Enrollment: 13,876

44. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Petroleum Engineering

#51 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

45. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Petroleum Engineering

#52 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

46. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Petroleum Engineering

#53 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

47. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Petroleum Engineering

#54 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

48. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Petroleum Engineering

#55 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

49. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Petroleum Engineering

#56 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

50. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Petroleum Engineering

#57 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

51. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Petroleum Engineering

#59 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

52. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Petroleum Engineering

#60 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

53. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Petroleum Engineering

#61 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

54. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Petroleum Engineering

#62 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

55. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Petroleum Engineering

#63 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $24,664
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $26,190

56. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Petroleum Engineering

#64 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

57. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Petroleum Engineering

#65 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

58. SUNY College of Optometry

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#66 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 409
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1971

59. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Petroleum Engineering

#67 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

60. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Petroleum Engineering

#68 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

61. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Petroleum Engineering

#70 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,704
Enrollment: 6,607

62. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Petroleum Engineering

#71 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

63. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Petroleum Engineering

#72 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

64. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Petroleum Engineering

#73 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

65. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Petroleum Engineering

#75 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

66. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Petroleum Engineering

#76 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

67. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Petroleum Engineering

#77 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

68. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Louisiana | Lafayette

For Petroleum Engineering

#78 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $10,672
Enrollment: 15,219

69. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Petroleum Engineering

#79 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

70. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Petroleum Engineering

#80 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

71. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Petroleum Engineering

#82 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

72. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Petroleum Engineering

#84 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

73. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Petroleum Engineering

#85 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

74. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Petroleum Engineering

#87 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

75. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Petroleum Engineering

#88 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

76. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Petroleum Engineering

#89 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

77. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Petroleum Engineering

#90 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

78. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Petroleum Engineering

#91 in North America

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1261
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,590

79. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Petroleum Engineering

#92 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

80. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Petroleum Engineering

#93 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

81. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Petroleum Engineering

#94 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

82. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#95 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

83. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Petroleum Engineering

#96 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

84. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Petroleum Engineering

#97 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

85. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Petroleum Engineering

#98 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

86. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Petroleum Engineering

#99 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

87. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Petroleum Engineering

#100 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

88. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Petroleum Engineering

#101 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

89. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Petroleum Engineering

#102 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

90. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Petroleum Engineering

#103 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

91. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Petroleum Engineering

#104 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

92. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Petroleum Engineering

#105 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Petroleum Engineering

#106 in North America

#335 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

94. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Petroleum Engineering

#107 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

95. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Petroleum Engineering

#108 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

96. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Petroleum Engineering

#109 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Petroleum Engineering

#111 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

98. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Petroleum Engineering

#112 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

99. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Petroleum Engineering

#114 in North America

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

100. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Petroleum Engineering

#115 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
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.