Best Accredited Petroleum Engineering Schools in Texas

Desiring to be a petroleum engineer without attending an accredited petroleum engineering school is just a mere wish. This is where getting accredited schools in petroleum engineering comes to play.

If you wish to study in Texas, the second-largest state in the USA, this article compiles a list of the best accredited Petroleum Engineering Schools in Texas.

Getting a degree in any of the Texas accredited schools for petroleum engineering students won’t just earn you the skills and knowledge to evaluate the oil and gas reservoirs, it also opens you to a wider scope of job opportunities in and outside the state.  

In this post, I have put down relevant information about petroleum engineering as a career and what it entails. I also included a list of best-accredited petroleum engineering schools in Texas to help you make the best choice.

I tell you the first step you can ever take for making choices is making a research first. And believe me, coming here has saved you that stress because that is the main reason for writing this post.

Therefore, read this post carefully, word-to-word, without skimming and you will be glad that you did.

To get an overview of all that this post entails I will advise you quickly navigate through the table of contents right below.

Table of contents

What is Petroleum Engineering?

Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the exploration, extraction, and production of oil. It also concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be crude oil or natural gas.

Moreso, it is a field of engineering that focuses on estimation of the recoverable volume of resources using a detailed understanding of the physical behavior of oil, water, and gas within porous rock at very high pressure.

Who is a Petroleum Engineer?

A Petroleum engineer is an engineer that specialized in designing and developing methods that can be used for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth’s surface.

Moreso, the engineer determines the deepest way to swim and extract oil and gas from a single well. They take good care of the job and solve any work problem.

Additionally, they decide how to look better.

President of The Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nicholas Staviski said that

‘Petroleum engineering is a combination of innovation, exploration, and expansion. This major provides the building blocks for every other profession to effectively carry out its work.‘

That means, petroleum engineering serves as a basic rock on which other engineering professions stand.

Read: Best Accredited Petroleum Engineering Schools In Louisiana

What does a Petroleum Engineer Do?

Petroleum engineering is one field of engineering that plays a vital role in today’s world economy. As a Petroleum engineer, your major function evaluates oil and gas reservoirs to determine their profitability.

Aside from that, other functions that you will handle as a petroleum engineer includes the following;

  • As a petroleum engineer, you can manage the completion of wells.
  • During production, you will monitor yield and develop modifications, including stimulation programs to enhance it.
  • Moreso, you can solve operational problems that may arise.
  • Additionally, you can examine the geology of future drilling sites to plan the safest and most efficient method of drilling and recovering oil.
  • You can make the drilling process safer for people, communities, wildlife, and the environment.
  • Then, ensure compliance with best practices, industry standards, and environmental and safety regulations, and contribute to energy independence.
  • Furthermore, anything that has to do with the installation, maintenance, and operation of the equipment will also be your responsibility.

Careers you can take up with a Petroleum Engineering Degree

Petroleum engineering has different areas of specialization. And these areas determine to a large extent, your roles and duties. That means, as a Petroleum engineer, you can specialize in a particular aspect of drilling operations;

Production Engineers

Production engineers monitor production and determine how to coax more out of an under-producing well.

Completion Engineers

Then, completion engineering. This is another career that plays a major role in petroleum engineering. As a Completions Engineer, you will decide the best way to finish building a well so that the oil or gas flows upwards from the ground.

Drilling Engineers

Another type of petroleum engineering career you can focus on is working as a Drilling engineer. These sets of engineers do research to find out the best way to drill a particular well so that it’s economically efficient and safe for people and the environment.

Reservoir Engineers

As a Reservoir Engineer, you will determine the best way to recover the most oil or gas from a particular deposit and estimate how much that will be. 

Why Study Petroleum Engineering in Texas?

Texas is a state in the South-Central Region of the United States known as the second-largest U.S. state by area and population. 

And the United state of America been known as one of the top countries for the production of oil, it’s among the big heads.

Also, petroleum engineering is one aspect of engineering that pays well. The petroleum industry is a high-profile and vital sector that rewards its professionals very well.

Now, imagine studying in one of the biggest states in a country that is well-known as one of the top countries with the highest oil production. That means getting a job with a fat salary can’t be an issue.

Besides the financial rewards, by working in petroleum engineering in Texas, you will be on the front line of an industry that is literally powering the world and doing so with the environment as a priority at all times.

Moreso, studying petroleum engineering in texas can open you to wider job opportunities. You can work in many other countries and anywhere. The petroleum engineering sector is one sector that has lots of career options to consider. 

Don’t miss out!

What is the Salary for Petroleum Engineers in Texas?

The average wage a petroleum engineer receives, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $130,280 annually.

The table below shows some petroleum engineers’ salaries.

Petroleum Engineering CareersSalary
Oil and gas Extractors$144,810
Company managers$143,240
Architectural Engineering$121,790
Society of Petroleum Engineers$212,123
Completions Engineers$197,739
Production Engineers$194,481
Reservoir engineers$187,780

Specifically in Texas, there was total employment of 19,660 in just the petroleum engineering field. The starting salary was about $105,870 while the median average salary was $143,210.

According to indeed.com, The average salary for a petroleum engineer is $81,614 per year in Texas as of June 2020.

Careerexplorer.com also gave an estimate of what each petroleum engineer earns based on levels.

Petroleum Engineer LevelPer hourPer Year
Senior-level petroleum engineer  $99.80$207,580
Mid-level petroleum engineer  $72.77$151,360
Junior-level petroleum engineer  $52.84$109,910
Starting level petroleum engineer  $36.40$75,710
   

Related Article: Best Accredited Petroleum Engineering schools in Florida

How Can One get a Petroleum Engineer Degree in Texas?

Before you can brag about yourself as a petroleum engineer, you must first get an undergraduate program degree from any of the accredited petroleum schools.

During the program, you will experience classroom lectures, lab work, and field studies.

Work experience gained through cooperative education programs that award academic credit for job experience is also highly valued by employers. A solid foundation in math and science is excellent preparation for college studies.

With a degree, especially a graduate degree in petroleum engineering or any of its related fields, you can have an edge in the job market.

What Schools in Texas offer Programs for Petroleum Engineering?

The accredited petroleum engineering schools in Texas are :

#1. Texas A&M University- Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering

Address: 3116 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3116

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Graduation Rate: 79%
No of Programs: 4

Texas AM University, formerly known as Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, Texas A&M University is an educational institution in Texas. It is also known as the fourth-largest university in the United States and the largest university in Texas.

This university offers engineering programs that are globally recognized to both national and international students.

 Basically, it offers 4 petroleum engineering programs which include

  • Master of Science
  • Master of Engineering
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Bachelor of Science

In addition to the programs, the school also offers an Online Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering which will be more beneficial if you consider the distance.

The university Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering provides these programs with the core aim of providing petroleum engineering students with a solid foundation in petroleum engineering fundamentals.

However, the students take classes that enhance their skills and knowledge in building their careers.

Furthermore, enrolling in a program in this school will help prepare you to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and operational evaluation of systems.

These will be in locating, extracting, processing, and refining crude petroleum and gas.

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#2. The University of Texas at Austin

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Graduation Rate: 79%
Accreditation: ABET
No of Programs: 3

Next on our list is the University of Texas at Austin. This university is one of the most prestigious universities in Texas that is globally recognized.

This university offers various degree programs in different fields that petroleum engineering is among.

Hence, the university’s petroleum engineering department known as the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (PGE) is fully recognized as one of the best-Accredited petroleum engineering schools in texas.

 Basically, this accredited petroleum engineering school offers 3 petroleum engineering programs which includes

  • Master of Engineering
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Bachelor Degree

As a student who wants to study in this department, you can major in either Petroleum Engineering or Geosystems Engineering and Hydrogeology.

Moreso, you will have many opportunities to develop their petroleum engineering skills and knowledge outside of the classroom, including student organizations, camps and internships with industry.

In addition, you will gain skills and exceptional knowledge that can help you impact society by finding solutions to our greatest energy issues. 

Note, the Engineering Accreditation Committee of accredits this School of Engineering in Texas undergraduate programs ABET.

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#3. Texas Tech University

Address: 807 Boston Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Graduation Rate: 60%
Accreditation: ABET
No of Programs: 4

Are you a student passionate about building an exceptional career in petroleum engineering and you want to do all it takes in Texas, going to Texas Tech. This university is a prestigious public research university founded in 1923.

Regarding general enrollment, the university has one of the largest student enrollments in Texas.

Also, it offers a variety of degree programs which undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in different fields in which petroleum engineering is among.

Basically, the Texas Tech petroleum engineering school known as Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in petroleum engineering.

However, these programs can teach you the foundational disciplines of mathematics, science, geology, physics, and chemistry as a student.

There will also be industry-specific training in the following areas Well Development Well Drilling Production Engineering Transportation of Natural Resources

Currently, the department has a student enrollment in its undergraduate program and 59 students in its graduate program.

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#4. Texas A&M University – Kingsville

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 32%
Accreditation: ABET
No of Programs: 5

Making Texas A&M University–Kingsville your study destination won’t really be a bad idea if you are looking for an accredited petroleum engineering school in Texas.

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is among the best-accredited schools in Texas that offer petroleum engineering programs.

This is a public research university in Kingsville founded in 1989.  This university offers degrees in agriculture, engineering, and the sciences besides select programs in the humanities.

It features state-of-the-art facilities including an active farm for its agricultural students.

This university’s department of petroleum engineering, known as the Wayne H. King Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering provides Natural Gas or Chemical Engineering programs to its students.

Basically, this department offers 5 Petroleum Engineering Degree programs which include;

  • BS – Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering
  • M – Minor in Petroleum Engineering
  • MS – Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering
  • MEng – Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering
  • Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering

Some of their notable courses include; Geology of Petroleum Reservoir Fluids Transport Processes in Petroleum Production Well Testing.

Here, you will have access to chemical laboratories and drilling facilities and progress through a broad-based curriculum that will prepare them for several career options.

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#5. University of Houston

Address: 5000 Gulf Freeway Bldg 9, Room 219 Houston, 

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Accreditation: ABET
No of Programs: 3

Next on our list of best petroleum engineering schools with full accredited degree programs in Texas is the University of Houston.

This university is an educational institution Houston TX is an educational institution that is globally recognized and respected for its excellent academic performance.

Generally, this university offers nearly 300-degree programs and awards over 9,000 degrees annually, including doctoral and professional programs. It boasts over 40 research centers and institutes on campus that contribute to its reputation or excellence in research.

Cullen College of Engineering is a college in the university that houses the Department of Petroleum Engineering. It has a  total of 306 Undergrad Students in the Department.

Basically, at the school, the department offers incredible degree programs in the petroleum engineering field which is aimed at equipping its students with all it takes to fit into the full spectrum of career opportunities.

In addition, this accredited texas school offers both a major and a minor in petroleum engineering and master’s and doctoral degrees in the field.

That means, with the knowledge and skills you will gain, you can work large multinational corporations or smaller independent oil companies or even have opportunities for developing new companies and enterprises.

You will also be trained in drilling, petrophysics, production, reservoir engineering, geoscience, and economics. Some of the programs are  

  • Bs
  • B.S.P.E.T.E.
  • M.P.E. 
  • M.S. 

If you do well, you can also get any of the Departmental or Merit-based scholarships offered through the petroleum engineering program.

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#6. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Address: 4901 E University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79762, United States

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Accreditation: ABET
No of Programs: 1

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is another accredited university in Texas that is ranked as one school with the best petroleum engineering programs in Texas.

Founded in 1973 with system known as the newest member of the University of Texas System has a total student enrollment of 6,000 students.

At this university, there are various degree programs in different fields like science, computer, engineering, and information systems that students from anywhere in the world can apply for.

However, this university school of engineering houses the petroleum engineering department, which offers undergraduate programs in the field.

Basically, this program is a broad-based discipline primarily concerned with developing, exploring, conservating, and transporting oil and gas resources.

As a student, it will expose you on how to make plans related to petroleum engineering, including supervising drilling and well-completion programs, designing and selecting drilling and production equipment, estimating reserves, and managing oil and gas properties.

Also, you will get intentional broad training in the industry that can build your expertise in areas like Resource Development, Exploration, Conservation, and Transportation.

Furthermore, you will gain hands-on experience in drilling, well engineering, equipment operation, reserve estimation, and property management.

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References

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