Online Master’s in Petroleum Engineering
Advance Your Career with an Online Petroleum Engineering Master’s
KU’s online master’s in petroleum engineering prepares engineers to deepen their expertise in reservoir engineering, drilling, and production while expanding their impact across the global energy industry.
The program builds advanced technical knowledge while introducing modern analytical approaches used across today’s energy sector, including data-driven engineering analysis, AI-supported reservoir modeling, and the study of subsurface energy systems.
Engineers in the United States and abroad enroll in the program, learning from faculty in KU’s School of Engineering at the University of Kansas, an Association of American Universities (AAU) member and Carnegie R1 research university.
Delivered fully online, the program allows working professionals to strengthen their technical foundation, move into more advanced engineering roles, or expand their expertise as the energy sector evolves.
Careers in petroleum engineering
Graduates of KU’s online master’s in petroleum engineering are prepared for advanced technical and leadership roles across the energy sector. Petroleum engineers analyze underground reservoirs, design drilling and production systems, and help energy companies determine how energy resources can be safely and efficiently developed.
Professionals in this field work on reservoir analysis, drilling and production operations, and field development planning. Many also move into roles that involve engineering management, project leadership, and technical decision-making within energy and engineering organizations.
Petroleum Engineering Salary Outlook
Petroleum engineering and related engineering leadership roles offer strong earning potential and steady demand across the broader engineering workforce.
According to Lightcast labor market data:
Median salary: about $165,700 per year
Projected job growth:6.6% through 2035
Annual job openings: about 5,452 positions nationwide
These roles combine advanced engineering expertise with analytical and leadership responsibilities in energy development, production operations, and large-scale engineering projects.
Common Roles in Petroleum Engineering
Graduates with an advanced petroleum engineering degree pursue roles such as:
Petroleum engineer
Reservoir engineer
Drilling engineer
Production engineer
Field development engineer
Engineering manager
Many professionals advance into leadership positions overseeing engineering teams, managing field development projects, or guiding technical strategy within energy companies, consulting firms, and research organizations.
Skills You’ll Build
Students in KU’s program develop technical and analytical skills that are widely used across engineering and energy organizations. According to Lightcast job posting data, in-demand skills in these fields include:
Engineering analysis and problem solving
Process improvement and systems optimization
Project and engineering management
Automation and technical innovation
Computer science and data-driven engineering methods
These skills help engineers evaluate complex subsurface systems, improve production performance, and support decision-making in energy development projects.
Fast facts
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Fill out the form to receive details about KU’s petroleum engineering master’s program, including admissions requirements, tuition, and upcoming start dates.
Why choose KU’s online master’s in Petroleum Engineering?
The University of Kansas is part of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and a Carnegie R1 research university known for rigorous research and applied engineering education. The program combines strong academic training with practical engineering applications in a fully online format designed for working professionals.
Petroleum engineering in evolving energy systems
Study petroleum engineering within the broader context of subsurface energy systems, while exploring modern analytical approaches such as data-driven engineering analysis and AI-supported reservoir modeling.Industry-focused technical preparation
Develop expertise in reservoir engineering, drilling, production, and field development, applying analytical tools used across today’s energy industry.Online learning designed for working professionals
Courses follow a consistent structure with weekly modules and clear expectations so students can plan their coursework around their schedules. The fully online format allows students to pursue graduate study with flexibility, whether they are working professionals, international students, or managing other responsibilities.Faculty connected to industry and research
Learn from instructors engaged in research and partnerships across the energy sector.Career outcomes across the energy industry
KU graduates have gone on to work with employers such as BP, ExxonMobil, SLB, national laboratories, and energy technology companies.
What you’ll learn in KU’s online master’s in petroleum engineering
Build advanced expertise in the core areas that drive petroleum engineering, from reservoir behavior to drilling and production systems, while developing analytical skills used across today’s evolving energy industry.
Students explore topics such as:
Advanced petroleum engineering fundamentals in reservoir, drilling, and production systems
Engineering analysis for subsurface systems and field development
Reservoir performance evaluation using modern analytical approaches
Flow in porous media and its role in reservoir modeling and recovery
Enhanced recovery methods used to improve reservoir performance
Data-driven engineering analysis and decision-making, including AI-supported reservoir modeling
Resource evaluation and risk management in subsurface energy systems
Coursework emphasizes applied learning through assignments and projects that reflect industry expectations and real engineering workflows.