Pennsylvania · Petroleum Engineering

Best institutions to study Petroleum Engineering in Pennsylvania

Petroleum Engineering is a specialized field of engineering focused on the production of hydrocarbons, including crude oil and natural gas. This program is designed for students interested in the upstream sector of the oil and gas…

Institutions
3
offering CIP 14.25
States offered
16
with a program page
Degrees / yr
47
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$85,795
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$15,989
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
75%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Petroleum Engineers
$120,180
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus
University Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$85,7954386%$22,368

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Petroleum Engineers (SOC 17-2171).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.3%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~1,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$141,280
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingMonitoring

What Petroleum Engineers earn in Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
600
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$120,180
median $101,880
Best-paying metro
$134,210
Pittsburgh, PA

Related careers

Petroleum Engineers
$120,180 avg · 600 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Petroleum Engineering programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Petroleum Engineering program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus tops the list at $85,795. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Petroleum Engineers earn in Pennsylvania?+

The average annual wage for Petroleum Engineers in Pennsylvania is $120,180 (median $101,880), across about 600 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Petroleum Engineering program?+

Petroleum Engineering is a specialized field of engineering focused on the production of hydrocarbons, including crude oil and natural gas. This program is designed for students interested in the upstream sector of the oil and gas…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Petroleum Engineers?+

The national job outlook is about +1.3% growth with around 1,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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