10 Colleges With Highest-Paid Petroleum Engineering Grads

Programs that lead to the highest starting salaries

College graduates with a specialty in engineering are in high demand. Those who study petroleum engineering are especially sought after and can expect to be well compensated. For students interested in pursuing this field of study, here are the colleges where petroleum engineering graduates earn the most. Earnings were calculated based on PayScale data, which lists the median starting salary for alumni of these programs with three years of postgraduation work experience and whose highest degree is a bachelor's.

West Virginia University

U.S. News rank: 228 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $97,000

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $66,800

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $8,976 (in-state), $25,320 (out-of-state)

Learn more about West Virginia University.

University of Oklahoma

U.S. News rank: 132 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $98,500

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $72,100

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $11,763 (in-state), $27,144 (out-of-state)

Learn more about the University of Oklahoma.

University of Tulsa (OK)

U.S. News Rank: 121 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $99,700

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $78,500

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $42,238

Learn more about the University of Tulsa.

Pennsylvania State University--University Park

U.S. News rank: 57 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $100,600

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $68,700

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $18,450 (in-state), $35,514 (out-of-state)

Learn more about Pennsylvania State University--University Park.

University of Wyoming

U.S. News rank: 228 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $107,900

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $64,500

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $5,581 (in-state), $18,151 (out-of-state)

Learn more about the University of Wyoming.

Colorado School of Mines

U.S. News rank: 84 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $109,300

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $71,600

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $19,062 (in-state), $39,762 (out-of-state)

Learn more about Colorado School of Mines.

Marietta College (OH)

U.S. News rank: 10 (tie), Regional Colleges (Midwest)

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $110,000

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $102,100

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $36,040

Learn more about Marietta College.

Texas Tech University

U.S. News rank: 218 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $110,500

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $71,100

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $11,320 (in-state), $23,770 (out-of-state)

Learn more about Texas Tech University.

Texas A&M University--College Station

U.S. News rank: 70 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $111,000

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $73,500

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $11,232 (in-state), $37,726 (out-of-state)

Learn more about Texas A&M University--College Station.

University of Texas--Austin

U.S. News rank: 48 (tie), National Universities

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in petroleum engineering: $112,300

Median starting salary of alumni who majored in engineering: $76,200

2019-2020 tuition and fees: $10,818 (in-state), $38,228 (out-of-state)

Learn more about the University of Texas--Austin.

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Schools where petroleum engineering graduates earn high salaries

-- University of Texas--Austin: $112,300

-- Texas A&M University--College Station: $111,000

-- Texas Tech University: $110,500

-- Marietta College: $110,000

-- Colorado School of Mines: $109,300

-- University of Wyoming: $107,900

-- Pennsylvania State University--University Park: $100,600

-- University of Tulsa: $99,700

-- University of Oklahoma: $98,500

-- West Virginia University: $97,000