Grad school ยท Engineering
Petroleum Engineering graduate programs: earnings and debt by school
21 colleges award master's degrees in petroleum engineering. Graduates of the typical program earned $127,412 a year after finishing.
Official field: Petroleum Engineering. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.
| Degree level | Programs | Typical earnings 1 yr after | Typical median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 21 | $127,412 | n/a |
| Doctoral | 16 | n/a | n/a |
Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay
Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.
Master's programs in petroleum engineering
Highest first-year earnings
Doctoral programs in petroleum engineering
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRolla, MO | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, NM | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stanford UniversityStanford, CA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of HoustonHouston, TX | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of TulsaTulsa, OK | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of WyomingLaramie, WY | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do petroleum engineering graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $127,412 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.
Undergraduate: Petroleum Engineering major
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.