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Top 10 Best Petroleum Engineering Degrees
Graduates of engineering degrees are in high demand all over the world, with developing and developed nations calling for highly qualified specialists to keep their economies growing. Whether you’re enrolling in your first engineering degree or preparing to specialize in masters or PhDs, our course guides are designed to help you choose the right program and get ready to apply. An engineering degree gives you a lot of options, both educationally and professionally. The area you choose to specialize in, as well as the degree level you obtain, will help determine your career path as well as your salary potential.
This article provides a list of schools in the United States where undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in petroleum engineering.…If you have a passion for resolving the globe’s energy issues, then this might just be the right profession for you. Petroleum engineers work closely with people in a number of fields, helping them to lastingly solve problems. They use scientific skills in order to achieve that goal.
| RANK | SCHOOL | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | Socorro, NM |
| 2 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO |
| 3 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| 4 | Texas a & M University | College Station, TX |
| 5 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City, SD |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX |
| 7 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA |
| 8 | Montana Tech / University of Montana | Missoula, MT |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA |
What kind of degree in petroleum engineering should you get
Undergraduate programs and doctoral degrees generally lack significant differentiation, with most schools offering only one program at these levels.
Petroleum engineering degrees at the master’s degree level, however, can be master of science or master of engineering degrees. While broadly similar, these programs will serve students with different professional needs.
A master of science in petroleum engineering will focus on performing research. Students’ coursework helps to improve their familiarity with either petroleum engineering theory or research methods they can use to improve the quality and efficiency of their research.
A master of engineering in petroleum engineering, meanwhile, builds skills for engineering practice. These programs often involve an engineering project, enabling students to demonstrate the skills they have learned over the course of the program. Some such programs allow students great flexibility in the courses they take, allowing them to improve their familiarity with petroleum as a business or other disciplines that will improve their career prospects.
What can you do with a degree in petroleum engineering
Petroleum engineers have many different titles depending on which aspects of the extraction process they specialize in. Common specializations include completions, drilling, and production.
- Completions Engineer – Completions engineers look at how wells should be built to extract as much oil as possible. They use tubing, hydraulic fracturing, pressure control, and other techniques to optimize extraction.
- Drilling Engineer – Drilling engineers find reliable, cost-efficient ways to drill down to reach oil. They must also account for safety and environmental impact.
- Production Engineer – Production engineers oversee the work done at completed oil wells. They monitor current extraction rates, and recommend changes or maintenance if a well fails to produce as much as expected.
petroleum engineering salary
Petroleum engineer salaries came in at more than $100,000 per year in 2018, translating to the average hourly pay of just under $50, according to Payscale.com. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows even higher salaries, close to $140,000, for a median pay of about $65 per hour.
Growth prospects in petroleum engineering also look positive for the foreseeable future. The field should add about 5,000 jobs over its 2016 numbers by 2026, showing growth that significantly outstrips the national average. Changes in oil prices, however, could significantly alter this figure.
top 10 petroleum engineering schools in the US
The University of Texas at Austin – Cockrell School of Engineering
So, the Cockrell School of Engineering is right at the top of our list. Whilst this article isn’t strictly numbered in order (who could decide that?), UT at Austin came upmost in our research, and networking among industry professionals.
We’d probably go so far as saying the top 5 here are the ‘top 5 in the USA’, that’s as far as we’d go in risking an angry backlash…
Within the region of 7-8000 students studying 9 undergraduate degrees, and 13 graduate programs, this is a substantial school. As we all know, economies come at scale, and the quality of resources available to students is unbeatable. This means that as long as you’re smart and dedicated enough, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible at a school like this.
Different reviews over the years tend to rank the Cockerel School of Engineering in the top 1 or 2 in the USA. The Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering department is particularly well respected, often coming first in undergraduate, and graduate programs.
University of Tulsa – McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering
The Internationally acclaimed McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering at UT was another easy decision for the top few spots on this page. This department is the largest and most important on the UT campus.
With an excellent reputation and close industry links, 95% of graduates manage to secure employment within 6 months of leaving.
As with many of the top European petroleum engineering schools, the postgraduate programs have a focus on innovation and technological progress. The research departments work in cooperation with multiple governmental and industry agencies.
One key differential at UT is that undergraduates can also get involved with, and work alongside postgraduate researchers. This fosters an atmosphere of empowerment. It also helps create a backdrop of mutual respect and understanding whatever the level of experience. These qualities are crucial when working in challenging and dangerous environments.
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines, also known simply as ‘mines’ benefits from many of the same situational features of all top petroleum engineering schools. Firstly, the location is close to the industry’s production, with many geological formations that are actively in production.
Secondly, close industry links enable collaboration, internships, and information sharing. Mines has an SPE chapter and benefits from the knowledge that is pooled by the most important industry body. The SPE President spoke at the school recently, and these types of events allow immersion into the industry mindset for students.
Students are also encouraged to take part in field operations during the summer break while being guided by postgraduates. An exchange program allows one semester swaps with the Petroleum Engineering Departments of the Mining University of Leoben, Austria. The same applies to the Technical University in Delft, Holland. (Both of which appeared on our list of the top oil and gas universities in Europe). Mines also has an exchange arrangement with the University of Adelaide in Australia.
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
The Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering (MPGE) at the University of Oklahoma has appeared on most top lists over the years. Students graduating from MPGE consistently achieve employment rates of over 90% year on year.
As with most of the other entrants on our list, the Petroleum and Geological Engineering programs are among the oldest in the country. In the workforce, graduates from MPGE are very well represented because of the numbers of successful graduates each year, and the ease with which they obtain work.
This is partly down to the quality of the research departments here. MPGE has distinct departments that solve different industry problems. The departments are as follows:
- Integrated Core Characterization Center (IC3) that includes a complete Amoco Rock Physics Laboratory
- Integrated PoroMechanics Institute (iPMI)
- Well Construction Technology Center (WCTC)
- Institute for Applied Surfactant Research (IASR)
- Unconventional Shale Gas Consortium (USGC)
As well as the sheer number of graduates in the workplace, MPGE alumni are numerous at high levels in companies. This also applies to the recognized industry associations such as the Society of Petroleum Engineers of which seven have served as president.
Texas A&M University: Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering
From communicating with high-level industry sources, Texas A&M seemed to be in everyone’s top 10, in some cases the top 2 or 5! So, the home of the ‘Aggies’ comes in high up on our list.
The highly respected U.S. News & World Report ranks the Harold Vance department first in the USA for undergraduate, and third for graduate studies.
Why is Texas A&M so strong in the sector? It’s quite natural for a state to focus on its natural expertise and environmental assets. Texas is ‘oil country’ and always has been.
In a similar way to Aberdeen, Stavanger, or Dubai, Texas is in the heart of an oil industry hub. When multiple leading oil and gas companies have head offices, and hundreds of smaller companies live and work in a location, there are benefits to students. The closeness between academia and industry fosters strong relationships that lead to internships, innovation, and the overall betterment of the industry. Internships that involve working in the same area as you study and live make complete sense. Once suitably impressed, a company is likely to put you at the front of the queue to achieve a job upon graduation.
The USA is the leading country in the oil and gas industry and is likely to remain so. Qualifications from one of the best petroleum engineering schools, from the leading country, are likely to maximize your career potential!
The Louisiana State University
The Louisiana State Universities Craft and Hawkins Dept of Petroleum Engineering have run a highly respected program since the 1920s.
Like other entrants on our list, Louisiana is very much an oil state, featuring in the top four in the United States for the last half a century. The oil and gas industry has been responsible for approximately half of the revenue of the state during this period.
When we consider the importance of the O+G industry, the close proximity of exploration and production of hydrocarbons, it makes sense that the offered programs are cutting edge.
The fact that LSU is the flagship university in the state adds to the importance of being among the top schools in the country.
Another reason why LSU made it into our list, is because of their Petroleum Engineering Research & Technology Transfer, or PERTT, Laboratory. This is a full-scale, hands-on training facility for students to understand borehole technology. If you’re not impressed by this, you might like to know that this is the only facility of its kind in a university in North America!
It’s not surprising that the oil and gas industry loves to recruit LSU Petroleum Engineering graduates and postgraduates. As well as the PERTT lab, LSU invests large resources in a number of research departments. Research areas of expertise include well control & blowout prevention, enhanced recovery, and downhole water sink technology. Alumni will leave LSU armed with strategies that can help make a difference in the field.
Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State is steeped in oil and gas history, in fact, it was on August 27, 1859, that Edwin Drake first struck oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania. This discovery, in turn, led to the first super giant oil field in Bradbury.
The first official course in petroleum engineering was offered in 1907 at Penn State entitled “Prospecting and Well Drilling”. Over the last 110 years, Penn State has stayed at the top of the rankings national and international rankings, not just for oil and gas, but for engineering in general.
The technique known as waterflooding was first developed at Penn State. There’s also a solid online learning program available, something that we’ll be covering in a future article.
As with all of our featured top schools, the Penn State research facilities are state of the art and highly regarded. Facilities available to students include a multi-phase fluid flow system laboratory and a drilling rig simulator.
Missouri University of Science & Technology (formerly Missouri-Rolla)
The Missouri University of S&T was originally established in 1870 and named the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (MSM) which was a name that has described the focus for most of its history.
Then in 1963, the school was known as the University of Missouri at Rolla. (Rolla being the name of the area which is famous for lead and zinc mining).
As well as mining, energy has held an equal focus. Missouri’s first operational nuclear reactor was commissioned at the school in 1961. Now in the modern-day, there’s a strong drive towards alternative energy, including a solar house and car project.
Oil and gas engineering has, of course, also been a focus throughout the history of the school. Many links to major oil companies have thrived for decades, with Exxon Mobil having strong links. MU also has a respected SPE chapter as well. A focus on exchanges and internships helps students move towards an international oil and gas career, with available trips to the UK, Greece, and Egypt.
Texas Tech University Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas Tech University is the third Texas-based petroleum engineering school in our list. Whilst hardly surprising, the accolade is well deserved and with good reason.
The faculty are all very experienced, with a minimum of 15 years each, and Texas Tech has one of the largest Petroleum Engineering departments in the USA. The recently booming Permian Basin receives more than its fair share of graduates every year.
One of the biggest attractions of studying here is the new Terry Fuller Petroleum Engineering Research Building which was opened in 2014 and is entirely donor-funded. As is the case with all top schools, Texas Tech works closely with the industry. The oil and gas industry invested $22.8 million, with money coming from Apache Corp, Pioneer Natural Resources, Linn Energy, Chevron, Anadarko, and Oxy Petroleum. This is a classic case of voting with checkbooks!
Another reason why Texas Tech appears in our top 10 is that they have the largest (on-campus) test well. A Petroleum Engineering Advisory board helps students to stay up to date with industry best practices.
West Virginia University – Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources
West Virginia University (WVU) is situated close to the mighty Marcellus Shale geological formation. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (PNGE) Department at WVU has great access to research opportunities, and industry players.
As with all of our top picks, the PNGE department boasts state-of-the-art research facilities, with 4 distinct departments. These are the core analysis, drilling fluids, gas measurement labs, and rig floor simulators.
The most frequently mentioned and famous research is probably the Marcellus Shale research department. Here, topics such as porosity and structure are examined, and enhanced extraction techniques are formulated. High volumes of published technical papers and a 100% job placement rate on graduation show that the faculty, researchers, and students all practice what they preach.
Compare Top Petroleum Engineering Colleges in United States of America
| Best Petroleum Engineering Traditional Colleges | Acceptance Rate (%) | Avg SAT Score | Avg ACT Score | Ratings/ Review | City/ State |
|---|
Online Petroleum Engineering Degree
Distance learning provides flexibility, convenience and freedom to get an online degree in petroleum engineering (masters or bachelors) without attending a traditional brick & mortar classroom. University of North Dakota is one of the few online schools that offer this particular course, it has received rave reviews for being an affordable and reliable source of education. Those who are currently employed or don’t have time due to family obligations; distance education programs can make it easier to continue further studies or simply go back to school. For example:- If you already got your bachelors in mechanical engineering but would like to pursue MS in oil & gas engineering then it would make sense to enroll into an online program to help you save time and money (no need to commute to a physical college location). One of the biggest advantage of earning a degree is to establish yourself as an industry expert in the field of natural resources. The demand for gasoline & fuel energy is continuously rising across the globe. With a limited supply, it’s already deemed as a global crisis that must be resolved by the next generation of engineers.
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