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2026 Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 45 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Trade College evaluated 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found L E Fletcher Technical Community College to be the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology school in the United States. This public school is set in Schriever, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,219. Typical Mining Petroleum Technology student debt is $5,396. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,189 ten years after entry. Set against $5,396 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on L E Fletcher Technical Community College
A rank of #2 makes South Louisiana Community College one of the best values in the United States. Located in Lafayette, LA, South Louisiana Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,210 in tuition and fees. The median Mining Petroleum Technology program debt is $12,435. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on South Louisiana Community College
Bismarck State College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Mining Petroleum Technology ranking in the United States. Set in Bismarck, ND, Bismarck State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $7,331. Bismarck State College Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $13,340 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Bismarck State College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete their Mining Petroleum Technology program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,186. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
A rank of #5 makes Navarro College one of the best values in the United States. Based in Corsicana, TX, Navarro College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,008 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,578 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,781 to complete their Mining Petroleum Technology program here. Median earnings reach $38,716 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $13,781 median debt. Read the full report on Navarro College
Stark State College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in North Canton, OH. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical Mining Petroleum Technology student debt is $17,349. Stark State College alumni report median earnings of $34,661 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Stark State College profile
Pierpont Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Located in Fairmont, WV, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,762, with out-of-state students paying around $13,660. Typical Mining Petroleum Technology student debt is $16,268. Median earnings reach $35,132 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Pierpont Community And Technical College report
Lewis And Clark Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Godfrey, IL, Lewis And Clark Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Lewis And Clark Community College Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $9,602 in debt. Lewis And Clark Community College alumni report median earnings of $37,724 a decade after entry. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Lewis And Clark Community College
Lone Star College System came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Lone Star College System is a public school based in The Woodlands, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Typical Mining Petroleum Technology student debt is $10,425. Median earnings reach $42,466 ten years out. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Lone Star College System profile
West Virginia Northern Community College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Wheeling, WV, West Virginia Northern Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,706, with out-of-state students paying around $12,698. West Virginia Northern Community College Mining Petroleum Technology students take on a median of $11,528 in debt. Median earnings reach $30,162 ten years out. Set against $11,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full West Virginia Northern Community College profile
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. This public school is set in Anchorage, AK. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,738, compared with $21,322 for out-of-state students. Typical Mining Petroleum Technology student debt is $21,787. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,871 ten years after entry. Set against $21,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Seward County Community College And Area Technical School
Williston State College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Williston State College report
Southern University At Shreveport landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southern University At Shreveport report
Western Texas College placed #15 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. See the full Western Texas College profile
Central Technology Center landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Central Technology Center
Madisonville Community College placed #17 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. See the full Madisonville Community College profile
University Of The Virgin Islands came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of The Virgin Islands report
Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology report
Aims Community College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full Aims Community College profile
New Mexico State University Carlsbad offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad profile
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin placed #22 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Bossier Parish Community College placed #23 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. More on Bossier Parish Community College
Nicholls State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. More on Nicholls State University
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee placed #25 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Mining Petroleum Technology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Houston Community College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Houston Community College report
Midland College
Midland College placed #27 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Midland College report
Pueblo Community College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pueblo Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southwest Virginia Community College profile
Uintah Basin Technical College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read the full report on Uintah Basin Technical College
University Of North Dakota came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of North Dakota
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford placed #32 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Bradford
Eastern Arizona College landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Eastern Arizona College
Vincennes University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Vincennes University profile
Western Wyoming Community College placed #35 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Western Wyoming Community College report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College placed #37 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Mountain Empire Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read more about Mountain Empire Community College
Palo Alto College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on Palo Alto College
Southwest Mississippi Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Southwest Mississippi Community College report
Coastal Bend College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools. Read the full report on Coastal Bend College
Lackawanna College placed #42 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. More on Lackawanna College
Rend Lake College placed #43 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Get the full Rend Lake College report
Washington State Community College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Washington State Community College
Butler County Community College placed #45 among the best-value Mining Petroleum Technology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Butler County Community College
Related Mining Petroleum Technology Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Mining Petroleum Technology Associate’s 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
This list is compiled 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).