Petroleum Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Petroleum engineering is a specialized field focused on the efficient, safe, and sustainable extraction and processing of hydrocarbon resources from subsurface reservoirs. This program equips students with the technical expertise to design and evaluate complex systems involved in the entire lifecycle of oil and gas operations, from initial exploration to final delivery.
- Reservoir Engineering: Analyzes the behavior of oil and gas within underground formations to optimize recovery rates and predict reservoir performance over time.
- Drilling Engineering: Develops methodologies and equipment for safely and efficiently penetrating subsurface rock formations, including wellbore design and casing integrity.
- Production Engineering: Focuses on maximizing the flow of hydrocarbons from reservoirs to the surface through optimized well completions and artificial lift systems.
- Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): Applies advanced techniques such as chemical flooding, gas injection, and thermal methods to extract additional hydrocarbons from mature reservoirs.
- Wellbore and Formation Evaluation: Uses geophysical and logging tools to assess subsurface conditions, fluid content, and rock properties for informed decision-making.
- Facility Design and Operations: Involves the planning, construction, and management of processing plants, storage tanks, and pipeline networks to handle raw and refined hydrocarbons.
- Environmental and Safety Systems: Integrates risk assessment, emissions control, spill prevention, and regulatory compliance into engineering practices to minimize environmental impact and ensure operational safety.
Petroleum Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Petroleum Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Petroleum Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Petroleum Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 269,220 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Petroleum Engineers 17-2171 | $141,280 | $78,840 - $228,790 | 18,970 | $67.92 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
Petroleum Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $112,130 in Florida to $163,430 in North Carolina—a 46% difference. The highest-paying states include North Carolina, California, and Alaska. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 269,220 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Petroleum Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 28 institutions offering Petroleum Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Petroleum Engineering is found at Texas A & M University, College Station (141 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (100 graduates), Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (68 graduates), University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman Campus (51 graduates), and Texas Tech University (TTU) (50 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 755 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
141 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
68 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
50 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Tulsa (TU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | utulsa.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Odessa, Texas | Public | utpb.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Socorro, New Mexico | Public | nmt.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Marietta College |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Marietta, Ohio | Private | marietta.edu |
| Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Butte, Montana | Public | mtech.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| Saint Francis University (SFU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Loretto, Pennsylvania | Private | francis.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| Stanford University |
Master's
|
1 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Petroleum Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Petroleum Engineering degree?
Salaries for Petroleum Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Petroleum Engineers earn around $141,280. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in North Carolina average $163,430 compared to $112,130 in Florida. Approximately 269,220 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Petroleum Engineering programs?
Currently 28 accredited institutions offer Petroleum Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Texas A & M University, College Station (141 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (100 graduates), and Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (68 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Petroleum Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,106 in 2010 to a peak of 1,582 in 2020, before declining slightly to 755 in 2023-24. This represents a 32% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Petroleum Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Petroleum Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 269,220 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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