Petroleum Engineering
Graduate program at Colorado School of Mines
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Select a program type below to learn more. What’s the difference? Read more about program types.
Petroleum Engineering Master’s of Engineering Non-Thesis
Candidates for the non-thesis Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering degree must complete at least 30 hours of graduate course credit. This coursework-intensive program allows students to exponentially build on their skill set and advance their career, and can also serve as an excellent entry point into the oil and gas industry for engineers who earned a degree other than petroleum engineering.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Petroleum Engineering Master’s Thesis
The Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering requires at least 24 credit hours of coursework and a minimum of 6 hours of research credit. Earning this degree demonstrates an ability to observe, analyze and report original scientific research and prepares graduates for similar work in their careers or pursuit of a PhD.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- One letter is required for current Mines students or Mines alumni.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Petroleum Engineering Doctorate
Candidates in the Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering program must complete at least 48 hours of graduate course credit and a minimum of 30 credit hours of research beyond the bachelor’s degree, resulting in a written dissertation. Graduates are prepared to work in academia, conduct research in commercial or government laboratories as well as make scientific discoveries that advance the industry.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- One letter is required for current Mines students or Mines alumni.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Department of Petroleum Engineering
With one of the best-ranked petroleum engineering programs in the U.S., the Petroleum Engineering Department at Mines strives to lead the world in education, training, research and innovation for the responsible and sustainable acquisition and development of subsurface energy resources. Our dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities and hands-on learning opportunities make Mines a top choice for graduate students interested in exploring the dynamic field of petroleum engineering.
The petroleum engineering graduate program equips students with the expertise to understand, develop, and responsibly manage the essential energy resources shaping our future.
A Top Tier University
7 Research centers working closely with industry
#3 Best petroleum engineering graduate program (U.S. News & World Report)
Top ranked best return on investment
Credits and Deadlines
View the academic catalog to see the courses and credit requirements for this program.
Master's Thesis & Doctorate (PhD) Program Deadlines
Select a Term:
Spring 2025 Deadlines | Fall 2025 Deadlines
Spring Deadlines
Fall Deadlines
| Degree Program | Priority | International* | Domestic* | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Energy Systems | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Mathematics & Statistics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Computer Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Earth Resources Development Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Electrical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Engineering & Technology Management | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Environmental Engineering Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geochemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geological Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geology | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Humanitarian Engineering & Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Hydrology | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Materials Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mineral & Energy Economics | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mining Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Nuclear Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Operations Research with Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Petroleum Engineering | March 1 | March 1 | ||
| Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Quantitative Biosciences & Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Quantum Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Robotics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Space Resources | March 1 (International on-campus) | July 1 (Domestic on-campus) | August 1 | |
| Underground Construction & Tunnel Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 |
Residential (on-campus) Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| Spring Deadlines | Fall Deadlines | |
|---|---|---|
| International Students* | October 1, 2024 | March 1, 2025 |
| Domestic U.S. Students | December 15, 2024 | August 1, 2025 |
| International students are not eligible to apply for residential certificate programs. We encourage you to check out our online certificate options | ||
Online Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| The following deadlines apply to online master's non-thesis and graduate certificate programs for domestic U.S. and International students. | |
| Spring I & II (January 6 start) | January 2, 2025 |
| Spring III*** (March 10 start) | February 17, 2025 |
| Fall I & II (August 19 start) | August 1, 2025 |
| Fall III*** (March 10 start) | October 1, 2025 |
| **The Fall III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Chemical Engineering Processes in Energy Transitions; Data Science: Computer Science; Data Science: Earth Resources; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
| ***The Spring III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Product Management (Offered for only session III in spring); Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
Get Connected
You don’t have to decide right now, but let’s get you connected so we can stay in touch and keep you up-to-date. Fill out the quick information form below to get started.
Department Head
Jennifer L. Miskimins
Department Head and Professor, Petroleum Engineering
F.H. Mick Merelli/Coterra Energy Distinguished Department Head Chair, Fracturing, Acidizing, Stimulation Technology (FAST)
Research Interestes:
Stimulation and completions; hydraulic fracturing; unconventional reservoirs; treatment diagnostics; multidisciplinary research; geothermal well applications
You Are Ready
Contact Us
(303) 273-3247
grad-admissions@mines.edu
Career Connections
At Mines, your career goals are the focus. You will connect with world-class faculty and industry experts in your field, all while enhancing your knowledge through hands-on learning and research.
Petroleum Engineering careers
- Acquisitions and Divestitures Engineer
- Bank Analyst
- Certification Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Commissioning Engineer
- Completions and Production Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Drilling Engineer
- Exploration Engineer
- Field Engineer
- Gas Engineer
- Gas Pipeline Integrity Reliability Specialist
- Gas Processing Engineer
- Geologist
- Geosciences Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Geothermal Engineer
- Hydraulics and Pipeline Systems Engineer
- Hydrogeologist
- Instrument Engineer
- Interdisciplinary Engineer
- Midstream Facility Engineer
- Natural Gas Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Planning Engineer
- Plant Process Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Professor
- Project Engineer
- Research Engineer
- Reservoir Engineer
- Simulation Engineer
- Stimulation Engineer
- Systems Design Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Technical Analyst
- Well Engineer
- Well Planner
- Well Testing Engineer
Visit the Mines Career Center website for additional career resources and information.
Where to find our alumni
- Aera Energy
- Antero Resources
- Aramco
- Baker Hughes
- BHP
- bp
- bpx
- Bureau of Land Management
- Caliber Midstream
- California Resources Corporation
- Callon Petroleum Company
- Campos EPC
- Chevron
- Coterra Energy
- ConocoPhillips
- Crestwood Midstream Partners
- DCP Midstream
- Enable Midstream Partners
- EnLink Midstream
- EOG Resources
- ExxonMobil
- Halliburton
- Hess Corporation
- Kiewit
- Kinder Morgan
- Liberty Oilfield Services
- Marathon
- Meritage Midstream
- Neptune Energy
- NexTier Oilfield Solutions
- Occidental Petroleum
- Ovintiv
- PBF Energy
- Petronas
- Phillips 66
- Rio Tinto
- S&P Global Platts
- Schlumberger
- Sempra LNG
- Shell
- Suncor
- Tallgrass Energy
- Total Energies
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Venture Global LNG
- Western Midstream
- Williams Companies
Career Resources
Mines Career Center
The Mines Career Center helps students chart their career paths and prepare for job searches, holds networking events and brings hundreds of employers to campus, among a host of other services.
Scientific Journals
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- International Journal of Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering
- Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology
- Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology
- Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production
- Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
- Open Petroleum Engineering Journal
- SPE Drilling & Completion
- SPE Journal
- SPE Production & Operations
- SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering
Research and Trade Publications
- Asian Oil & Gas
- American Oil & Gas Reporter
- Data Science and Digital Engineering in Upstream Oil and Gas
- HSE Now
- Journal of Petroleum Technology
- Midstream Business
- OE: Offshore Engineer
- Offshore
- Oil and Gas Facilities
- Oil & Gas Journal
- Oil and Gas Facilities
- Oil and Gas Investor
- Oil Review Middle East
- Oilfield Technology
- Oilweek
- The Way Ahead
- Unconventional Oil & Gas Report
- Upstream
- World Oil
Professional and Industry Organizations
- American Association of Drilling Engineers
- American Association of Petroleum Geologists
- American Exploration & Production Council
- American Gas Association
- American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers
- American Petroleum Institute
- Association of Energy Service Companies
- Domestic Energy Producers Alliance
- Independent Petroleum Association of America
- International Association of Drilling Contractors
- International Association of Geophysical Contractors
- National Oil Shale Association
- National Stripper Well Association
- Society of Exploration Geophysicists
- Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts
Industry Outlook
The oil and gas industry’s challenges aside, if you have a job as a petroleum engineer, chances are you are being paid well.
Indeed.com reports that petroleum engineer was the highest-paying engineering job in the U.S. in 2020, with an average annual salary of $94,271.
PayScale pegged the average petroleum engineer salary even higher, at $101,575 per year. Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for petroleum engineers was $137,720 per year in May 2019.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of petroleum engineer jobs in the U.S. as of 2019—18,720—are located in Texas, according to the BLS. Salaries are on the higher end there, at an average of $172,890. California is a distant second with 2,440 petroleum engineer jobs, followed by Oklahoma, Colorado and Louisiana.
The top-paying states, on the other hand, may not be what you expected. Indiana was at the top, with an average annual wage of $198,170, followed by New Jersey, with $183,550. Texas, Colorado and Alaska round out the top five.
Chicago, not exactly thought of as an industry hotspot, was the highest-paying metropolitan area for petroleum engineers. Texas took the next three spots with Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur and Wichita Falls, followed by Denver (just 15 minutes away from Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, Colorado).
Through 2019, petroleum engineer salaries were on an upward trend. The Society of Petroleum Engineers’ membership salary survey found that base pay increased an average of 29.1% in the U.S. from the previous year. Salaries in 2018 were also up from 2017.
Prior to the pandemic, the BLS had predicted a 3 percent increase in jobs from 2019 to 2029—about as fast as the average for all jobs. There were 33,400 petroleum engineer jobs in 2019.
While a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to enter the industry, an advanced degree does provide an earnings advantage.
In 2018-19, Mines students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering received an average salary offer of $87,853. Master’s graduates that year received an average offer of $128,333, a $40,480 premium.
Salaries will likely only increase when the industry recovers from the pandemic. According to OilPrice.com, “the current crisis and the tens of thousands of layoffs every month since March are setting the stage for a massive talent shortage in just a few short years.”
“When the industry enters the next boom cycle, it may not need all these jobs—some of them could be eliminated due to greater efficiency and automation. But while it might not need all those employees, it will need many,” the article continues.
This labor shortage means companies will compete for the best engineers available, and offer even more incentives for employees with the background to help the industry overcome its unique challenges.
Tom Blasingame, incoming 2021 president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, said the industry will have plenty to offer current college students, in an interview with the Journal of Petroleum Technology published in September 2020.
“Enrollments are shifting and have been for a while, but my crystal ball says that in the 2022–2024 time frame we will face a significant workforce shortage,” he said. “It is reasonable to expect that, at present, enrollments will suffer, but ultimately we will be a (very) attractive destination for the rugged individualist who likes to get up early in the morning and change the world.”
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