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2026 Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 45 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Trade College analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Mining Petroleum Technology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is L E Fletcher Technical Community College, our #1 best-value Mining Petroleum Technology school in the United States. Based in Schriever, LA, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,219 in tuition and fees. Typical Mining Petroleum Technology student debt is $5,396. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,189 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $5,396 median debt. Read the full report on L E Fletcher Technical Community College
You'll get strong value at Bismarck State College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Bismarck, ND, Bismarck State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,340 to complete their Mining Petroleum Technology program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,277. That is a strong return on a $13,340 median debt. Get the full Bismarck State College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Navarro College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Corsicana, TX, Navarro College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,008, compared with $6,578 for out-of-state students. Navarro College Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $13,781 in debt. Navarro College alumni report median earnings of $38,716 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Navarro College report
Nicholls State University came in at #4 on this year's best-value Mining Petroleum Technology ranking in the United States. Nicholls State University is a public school based in Thibodaux, LA. Students from in state pay about $8,149 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Students borrow a median of $18,987 to complete their Mining Petroleum Technology program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,454. Set against $18,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nicholls State University admits about 91% of applicants. See the full Nicholls State University profile
A rank of #5 makes Stark State College one of the best values in the United States. Based in North Canton, OH, Stark State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. The median Mining Petroleum Technology program debt is $17,349. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,661 ten years after entry. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Stark State College profile
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a public school based in Okmulgee, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,774, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $13,356 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,634 ten years after entry. Set against $13,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee
Pierpont Community And Technical College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Fairmont, WV. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,762, compared with $13,660 for out-of-state students. The median Mining Petroleum Technology program debt is $16,268. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,132. That is a strong return on a $16,268 median debt. Read more about Pierpont Community And Technical College
Houston Community College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Set in Houston, TX, Houston Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $31,138 to complete their Mining Petroleum Technology program here. Median earnings reach $39,254 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Houston Community College
Lewis And Clark Community College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Godfrey, IL, Lewis And Clark Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete their Mining Petroleum Technology program here. Median earnings reach $37,724 ten years out. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Lewis And Clark Community College
Lone Star College System offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Set in The Woodlands, TX, Lone Star College System is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Lone Star College System Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $10,425 in debt. Lone Star College System alumni report median earnings of $42,466 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Lone Star College System
Lackawanna College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Lackawanna College is a private not-for-profit school based in Scranton, PA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,400. The median Mining Petroleum Technology program debt is $12,000. Lackawanna College alumni report median earnings of $41,000 a decade after entry. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Lackawanna College
West Virginia Northern Community College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Wheeling, WV. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,706, while out-of-state students pay about $12,698. West Virginia Northern Community College Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $11,528 in debt. West Virginia Northern Community College alumni report median earnings of $30,162 a decade after entry. Set against $11,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on West Virginia Northern Community College
Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Pleasant Gap, PA, Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology is a public institution. The median Mining Petroleum Technology program debt is $11,840. Median earnings reach $41,677 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,840 median debt. Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology has an acceptance rate of 96%. See the full Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology profile
Bossier Parish Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Bossier Parish Community College
Palo Alto College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Palo Alto College
Coastal Bend College placed #16 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Coastal Bend College report
Central Technology Center placed #17 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read more about Central Technology Center
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full Ivy Tech Community College profile
South Louisiana Community College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on South Louisiana Community College
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Get the full University Of Alaska Anchorage report
Southwest Mississippi Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Southwest Mississippi Community College report
Aims Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Aims Community College report
Butler County Community College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Butler County Community College
Madisonville Community College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Madisonville Community College profile
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Mining Petroleum Technology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read more about Seward County Community College And Area Technical School
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Bradford
Washington State Community College landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Washington State Community College profile
Western Wyoming Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Western Wyoming Community College
University Of North Dakota ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read the full report on University Of North Dakota
Williston State College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. See the full Williston State College profile
Western Texas College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Western Texas College profile
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College placed #33 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. More on Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Midland College
Midland College placed #34 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Midland College
Uintah Basin Technical College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Uintah Basin Technical College
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #36 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
Southern University At Shreveport ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read more about Southern University At Shreveport
Southwest Virginia Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. See the full Southwest Virginia Community College profile
Pueblo Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Pueblo Community College profile
New Mexico State University Carlsbad placed #40 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. See the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad profile
Rend Lake College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rend Lake College profile
Mountain Empire Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on Mountain Empire Community College
Vincennes University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full Vincennes University profile
University Of The Virgin Islands came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of The Virgin Islands
Eastern Arizona College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Eastern Arizona College
Related Mining Petroleum Technology Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 45 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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