MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Fees , Top Colleges, Placements & Salaries

The MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA is a 1 to 2-year postgraduate program for specialisation in the petroleum industry. International students with GRE and English proficiency exams can apply for the program. Students need a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience for the MS in petroleum engineering admission process. 

The average MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA fee ranges from $29,900 to $77,500. The top public and private universities offering the program include Stanford University, the University of Texas, and more. The average MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA salary ranges from $70,000 to $1,00,000. 

The students can apply for petroleum engineer positions like drilling engineers, geologists, safety engineers, and more. The top recruiters include ConocoPhillips, Saudi Aramco, and more. 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Quick Highlights 

The table below provides details on the MS in Petroleum in USA: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Important Dates and Events 

Students can start applying 6 months before the MS program intakes in the USA. The table below provides details of the MS in petroleum engineering in USA, important dates and events: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Visa Application Timeline & Scholarships

The visa application begins with an application form, documentation, a visa fee, followed by an interview. Students applying for a U.S. study visa must pay $350 for the application. For detailed US study visa information, students can check the table below: 

Why Choose an MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA?

Students can opt for the US to study an MS in petroleum engineering for its job market, recognised degrees, high-paying job roles, and quality education. Here is the detailed information on why the USA is the best option for petroleum engineering: 

• Job Growth: The USA is the largest oil-producing country with a $257.03bn industry. So, students can find a wide range of job and career opportunities in a growing industry. 
• Globally Recognised: The degrees offered in the USA are accepted worldwide. Students can work in countries like the UAE, India, and Australia with an MS in petroleum engineering course in the USA. 
• Specialised Knowledge: The universities like the University of Houston, the University of Texas provide detailed knowledge and hands-on experience in the field. Students can learn core subjects and get a high-quality education.
• High-Paying Jobs: Due to the large oil market and expertise in the field, US engineers get high-paying jobs like drilling engineer, risk and safety engineer, and more. 
• Post Study Permit: Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) get up to 24 months to find jobs in the USA. 

Cost of Living in USA

The students living in the USA need $650 to $1,420 per month for living expenses. These include accommodation and necessities. Here is the detailed information on the cost of living in USA for students: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA Eligibility Criteria

The students applying for an MS in petroleum engineering must have a bachelor’s, an entrance exam, and relevant experience. The table below provides complete details of the MS in petroleum engineering in USA eligibility criteria: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA Admission Process 

The admission process for an MS in the USA includes shortlisting, an application form, documents, and entrance exams, followed by a visa application. Here is the step-by-step MS in petroleum engineering admission process: 

• Step 1: Shortlisting: Students can start with shortlisting universities and checking their eligibility criteria. 
• Step 2: Entrance Exams: Based on eligibility requirements, students have to appear for the GRE, IELTS or TOEFL. The exam scores are required for international students to apply for the program. 
• Step 3: Application Form: Students have to apply for the shortlisted universities separately. Universities have their own admission portals for international students to apply. 
• Step 4: Offer Letter & Admission Fee: Once the application form is submitted with the required documents, students get admission status via email. The students have to 1-year or semester fee to confirm admission. 
• Step 5: Visa Application: With the offer letter and admission confirmation, students can begin the visa application process. 

Documents Required for Application Process 

The students have to provide documents to complete the application process. These include: 

• SOP- Statement of Purpose
• Student Visa Application
• LOR- Letter of Recommendation
• Admission Essay Writing
• Student CV
• Health insurance
• Valid Passport
• Academic Transcripts or Marksheets
• Identity proof

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Entrance Exams

The international students have to provide English proficiency via exams like IELTS. Some universities might require the GRE for petroleum engineering programs. Here is the detailed information on the MS in petroleum engineering in USA entrance exams: 

GRE: Preparation Strategy 

The GRE General test is a standard entrance exam for international students to apply for a master's. Here are some of the GRE preparation strategies students can implement: 

• Exam details & syllabus: GRE has 3 sections: verbal & quantitative reasoning, and analytical section. Students need to understand the syllabus and exam pattern in detail for each section. 
• Use digital platforms: There are YouTube channels, telegram channels that students can use for mock tests, preparation, and solving queries. 
• Practice Tests: Students need to take regular mock tests to analyse their performance. This will help in identifying mistakes and weak areas. 

IELTS/TOEFL: Preparation Tips

The global exam for English proficiency that every international student has to take for admissions. Here are some IELTS/TOEFL preparation tips that students can check: 

• Take mock tests: Students take weekly mock tests to receive feedback. This helps students to check mistakes and make improvements. 
• Use different resources: Students can take offline coaching, read books, use digital platforms, or check free resources. 
• Study plan: Students can make a study schedule for preparing for every section. The study plan should have practice sessions and learning. 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: CutOff

There are minimum qualifying marks required for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or GRE by the universities. Here is the MS in petroleum engineering cutoff in USA: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Syllabus 

The Master's in Petroleum Engineering has 2 to 4 semesters in the program. The final semester provides specialised elective courses that students select based on interest. Here is the detailed MS in petroleum engineering in USA syllabus: 

Best Universities/Colleges for MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA

The University of Texas and Stanford University are two of the top-ranked universities in petroleum engineering in the world. The students can apply to the best Universities for MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Public Universities Fees

There are 24 public universities in the USA offering a master's in petroleum engineering. The table below provides the MS in petroleum engineering in USA public universities' fee details:

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Private Universities Fees

There are limited private universities offering courses in petroleum engineering in the USA. Some of the best private universities MS in petroleum engineering fees include: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA vs MS in Cyber Security in India

The students can apply for an MS in petroleum engineering in India with GATE and in USA with GRE. The table below provides a detailed comparison of MS in petroleum engineering in India vs USA: 

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA: Career Scope  

The petroleum engineering graduates can work in oil and gas, renewable energy, and sustainable energy industries. The table below provides jobs in petroleum engineering after MS in petroleum engineering in USA: 

Top Recruiters/Placement Companies

There were more than 20,000 job openings in 2023 in the USA for petroleum engineering graduates. Here are the top recruiters of MS in petroleum engineering in USA: 

• Alpha Apex Group
• The Energists
• Summit Search Group
• MSC Headhunting
• Accur Recruiting Services
• Keller Executive Search
• Nes Fircroft
• Ovintiv
• ConocoPhillips
• Hilcorp Energy

MS in Petroleum Engineering in USA Salary Package

The students can work at a mid-level after a master's in petroleum engineering. The table below provides details of the MS in petroleum engineering salary package in USA: 

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1. How many years does it take to study an MS in Petroleum Engineering in the USA?

Ans 1. Students can complete an MS in petroleum engineering in USA in 1 to 2 years.

Ques 2. Which is the biggest petroleum company in the world to work for?

Ans 2. Saudi Aramco is the biggest company to work for after MS in petroleum engineering.

Ques 3. What are the F-1 and F-2 visas in the USA for students?

Ans 3. Students with an MS in petroleum engineering in USA can apply for an F1 visa. Family members accompanying the students apply for an F2 visa.

Ques 4. Can students work during MS in petroleum engineering in USA?

Ans 4. Yes, students can work for 20 hours per week during their MS in petroleum engineering in USA.

Ques 5. How long is a US student visa valid for?

Ans 5. The USA study visa is valid for the duration of the MS in petroleum engineering and a post-study permit. It is not more than 5 years.

Ques 6. Do students need to appear for an interview for an MS in petroleum engineering in USA?

Ans 6. Some universities might ask for interviews; however, every international student has to appear for a visa interview.

Ques 7. How long does it take to receive an acceptance letter for an MS in petroleum engineering in USA?

Ans 7. The universities offering MS in petroleum engineering in USA can provide an acceptance letter in 4 to 6 weeks.