Best Petroleum Engineering Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
19
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$859,245
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$29,744
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Grad rate: 41.3% |
TX | +$1,127,917 | $104,395 | $21,727 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Texas A&M University-College Station
Grad rate: 83.7% |
TX | +$1,122,530 | $105,826 | $32,085 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Grad rate: 55.6% |
NM | +$1,103,811 | $103,706 | $22,872 | $28,756 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Texas Tech University
Grad rate: 67.1% |
TX | +$1,092,810 | $103,896 | $27,472 | $26,090 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Montana Technological University
Grad rate: 57.4% |
MT | +$1,023,550 | $99,324 | $21,620 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
The University of Texas at Austin
Grad rate: 87.7% |
TX | +$1,011,779 | $99,721 | $29,842 | $17,239 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Grad rate: 75.7% |
OK | +$1,011,044 | $99,981 | $28,833 | $24,625 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Colorado School of Mines
Grad rate: 80.5% |
CO | +$957,126 | $99,390 | $38,556 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of North Dakota
Grad rate: 63.2% |
ND | +$908,370 | $94,157 | $24,580 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
University of Wyoming
Grad rate: 60.3% |
WY | +$894,694 | $92,872 | $22,371 | $24,638 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Grad rate: 35.3% |
AK | +$857,212 | $89,097 | $21,182 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Grad rate: 51.6% |
LA | +$740,987 | $85,515 | $24,631 | $22,806 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
University of Houston
Grad rate: 64.0% |
TX | +$708,031 | $83,990 | $25,056 | $23,366 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Marietta College
Grad rate: 54.5% |
OH | +$700,210 | $89,305 | $52,360 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Grad rate: 62.6% |
MO | +$651,285 | $81,649 | $25,653 | $28,950 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
University of Kansas
Grad rate: 68.0% |
KS | +$646,230 | $81,042 | $25,215 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
West Virginia University
Grad rate: 61.7% |
WV | +$625,828 | $79,782 | $23,678 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Grad rate: 70.4% |
LA | +$593,405 | $80,274 | $34,328 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
University of Tulsa
Grad rate: 72.8% |
OK | +$548,838 | $83,883 | $63,093 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Petroleum Engineering Degrees by State
Browse Petroleum Engineering programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.