Houston is the global capital of the energy industry, and the University of Houston's Petroleum Engineering program, housed in the Cullen College of Engineering, is built directly on top of that advantage. The ABET-accredited BS in Petroleum Engineering (BSPetE), which passed its ABET review on the first attempt, sits minutes from the headquarters of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP, giving students a density of internship and recruiting access that few other petroleum engineering programs in the world can match. For international students weighing UH against Texas A&M or the University of Texas at Austin for petroleum engineering, UH's pitch is a direct-admit pathway for strong applicants, a 127-credit-hour curriculum designed to finish in four years, and an industry-embedded location rather than a purely academic one.
This guide covers what it actually takes to get into UH's Petroleum Engineering program: acceptance rate context, fees, admission requirements, how to strengthen your application, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
The University of Houston does not publish a department-level acceptance rate specifically for Petroleum Engineering. What is known:
- University-wide undergraduate acceptance rate (Fall 2025 Common Data Set): approximately 75.77% overall, with international applicants admitted at a notably higher rate of about 85.35%
- Direct-admit pathway: freshman applicants meeting at least one of the following are automatically admitted into Petroleum Engineering: top 10% high school class rank, a 3.8+ GPA, or a 1400+ combined SAT (32+ ACT) alongside a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants who don't clear one of these thresholds go through holistic review instead
- Third-party estimate sites cite a petroleum-engineering-specific acceptance rate in the range of roughly 60-70%, but this is not an official UH figure, and should be treated as an unverified third-party estimate
Because the direct-admit thresholds are objective and published, the practical acceptance question for most applicants isn't "what's the acceptance rate" but "do I clear one of the three direct-admit criteria," which removes most of the ambiguity that holistic-review-only programs carry.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Petroleum Engineering falls under UH's Architecture/Business/Engineering tuition band, which carries the highest per-semester fixed rate among UH's undergraduate colleges.
| Cost item | Amount (International/Non-Resident, 2026-2027) |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees, per semester (fixed-rate full-time plan) | ~$14,602.87 |
| Estimated annual tuition & fees | ~$29,200/year |
| Room and board (on-campus) | ~$8,000-12,000/year (estimate) |
| Books and supplies | ~$1,000-1,500/year (estimate) |
| Mandatory international health insurance | ~$1,800-3,000/year (estimate) |
| Personal expenses | ~$5,300/year (estimate) |
UH does not publish one consolidated official total cost of attendance figure combining all of these line items for international students; third-party aggregators estimate a full annual cost, tuition plus living expenses, in the $38,000-45,000/year range. Graduate Petroleum Engineering tuition is billed per credit hour under the Engineering rate (~$1,107/credit hour for 2026-2027); a typical full-time graduate course load of 9 credit hours per semester puts annual tuition at roughly $20,000/year, before fees.
International students are not eligible for US federal financial aid. Department and college-level scholarships, along with graduate research/teaching assistantships, are available but competitive and not guaranteed.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate
- Completed application and $90 international application fee
- Official secondary school transcripts (grades 9-12) with certified English translations if needed
- Copy of passport biometric page
- Financial documentation showing sufficient funds (UH's published estimate for undergraduates is around $43,110)
- SAT/ACT: not mandatory university-wide, but a qualifying score is one of the three direct-admit pathways into Petroleum Engineering
- English proficiency evidence (unless exempt)
Graduate (MS/PhD)
- UH Graduate School application through ApplyWeb, plus the Petroleum Engineering department supplement
- Minimum GPA around 3.0/4.0
- GRE scores required for unconditional admission (unlike some other UH graduate programs where GRE is waived)
- Statement of purpose, resume/CV, and letters of recommendation
- English proficiency scores (unless exempt)
How to Get Into University of Houston's Petroleum Engineering Program
-
Aim squarely at one of the three direct-admit thresholds. Top 10% class rank, a 3.8+ GPA, or a 1400+ SAT/32+ ACT with a 3.0+ GPA each independently guarantee admission into the major. If your profile is close to but not quite at one of these, put your energy into the metric you're closest to clearing rather than spreading effort evenly across all three.
-
Front-load Calculus and Physics. The BSPetE curriculum is explicitly designed for students who can start in Calculus I and finish in four years across 127 credit hours; arriving with strong math and physics preparation (or transfer credit) keeps you on that four-year track instead of adding remedial semesters.
-
Target internships and co-ops early, not just in your junior year. Because UH sits inside Houston's energy corridor, internship and co-op access with companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron is a defining feature of the program, not an occasional extra. Reach out to the department's internship coordinators as early as your sophomore year.
-
For graduate applicants, treat the GRE as non-optional. Unlike UH's Computer Science department, which waives the GRE under some conditions, Petroleum Engineering requires GRE scores for unconditional graduate admission, so budget test-prep time accordingly.
-
Document your financial capacity early. Visa processing (I-20 issuance) requires proof of funds before you can enroll, so gather bank statements or sponsor letters well before your target semester to avoid delaying your start date.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Petroleum Engineering follows UH's university-wide English proficiency minimums; the department does not publish a higher threshold specific to the major.
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall (undergraduate and graduate)
- TOEFL iBT: 79 (undergraduate and graduate)
- Duolingo English Test: 105
- PTE Academic: 53 (published for graduate admission; not listed on UH's general undergraduate page)
Scores are valid for two years from the test date, and the requirement is waived for applicants with a qualifying degree from an English-medium institution or completion of Level 6 of UH's Intensive English Program. For the complete breakdown across programs, see the University of Houston guide.
Career Outcomes
UH does not publish a Petroleum-Engineering-specific employment rate, but the broader Cullen College of Engineering data and industry context give a strong picture:
- Cullen College of Engineering knowledge rate: approximately 73%, based on roughly 970 of 1,331 May 2026 graduates voluntarily reporting outcomes (college-wide figure, not Petroleum Engineering-specific)
- Top recruiters: ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP are consistently cited as active recruiters for petroleum, reservoir, drilling, and production engineering roles
- Program ranking context: College Factual ranks UH's undergraduate petroleum engineering program around #4-7 nationally among comparable programs, a third-party ranking rather than an official UH figure
- A precise, department-specific starting salary or employment percentage for Petroleum Engineering graduates specifically is not published by UH; treat any specific number you see elsewhere as an estimate
Petroleum Engineering is a STEM-designated degree, which qualifies international graduates for the standard 12-month OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension, providing up to three years of US work authorization after graduation.
FAQ
Does UH publish a specific acceptance rate for Petroleum Engineering? No. UH does not release a department-level acceptance rate. The clearest public information is the direct-admit criteria (top 10% class rank, 3.8+ GPA, or 1400+ SAT/32+ ACT with a 3.0+ GPA), which guarantee admission regardless of a broader "rate."
Is the GRE required for the MS in Petroleum Engineering? Yes. Unlike some other UH graduate programs, Petroleum Engineering requires GRE scores for unconditional graduate admission.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? The university-wide minimums apply: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, Duolingo 105, and PTE 53 (graduate). The department does not publish a higher requirement specific to Petroleum Engineering.
How much does the program cost for international students? Undergraduate tuition and fees run approximately $29,200/year under UH's Architecture/Business/Engineering rate; total cost of attendance including living expenses is commonly estimated at $38,000-45,000/year by third-party sources, though UH does not publish one consolidated total.
Is Petroleum Engineering at UH STEM-OPT eligible? Yes. It is a STEM-designated degree, qualifying graduates for the standard OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Who recruits UH Petroleum Engineering graduates? ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP are among the most frequently cited recruiters, reflecting Houston's position as a global energy industry hub.