Petroleum Engineering
Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment
Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)
Best Schools for Petroleum Engineering by Earnings
| # | School | 4yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Tulsa OK · Private | $145,353 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public | $139,867 |
| 3 | Texas Tech University TX · Public | $139,864 |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public | $123,416 |
| 5 | Colorado School of Mines CO · Public | $116,691 |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public | $114,686 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public | $113,669 |
| 8 | Montana Technological University MT · Public | $106,076 |
| 9 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public | $103,421 |
| 10 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette LA · Public | $102,594 |
| 11 | Missouri University of Science and Technology MO · Public | $102,405 |
| 12 | University of Wyoming WY · Public | $100,911 |
| 13 | University of North Dakota ND · Public | $99,932 |
| 14 | Marietta College OH · Private | $99,295 |
| 15 | University of Kansas KS · Public | $97,527 |
| 16 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology NM · Public | $95,234 |
| 17 | University of Houston TX · Public | $94,651 |
| 18 | West Virginia University WV · Public | $91,142 |
| 19 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville TX · Public | $77,469 |
School-by-school analysis: Petroleum Engineering
Editorial breakdowns of how petroleum engineering graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.
Petroleum Engineering (20 graduates) earns a median $145,353 at four years -- by far the highest program-level figure at Tulsa. Year-one earnings are not reported in the Scorecard. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.186 (ROI grade A) and $27,000 median debt show strong efficiency. Tulsa's petroleum engineering program operates in one of the country's most directly relevant geographies: Oklahoma's energy sector, the Permian Basin connection, and the broader Mid-Continent oil and gas industry. Graduates enter exploration, production, reservoir engineering, and energy consultancy roles. At $145,353 four-year earnings, the $27,000 debt load is a modest fraction of first-year pay beyond the one-year window.
Petroleum Engineering is the institution's highest four-year earner at $139,864, with 37 graduates and $80,460 at year one. Median debt of $26,090 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.324 (ROI grade B+). This program is cyclically sensitive to oil and gas markets, but the Scorecard earnings data reflects a strong cohort. Texas Tech's location in the Permian Basin region creates a direct geographic and industry pipeline.
Petroleum Engineering graduates 23 students at $61,223 initially and $123,416 at four years — the highest four-year earnings figure at OU. The 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B grade. Volatility in oil markets creates career-cycle risk not captured in this data, but the long-term pay trajectory for this field is exceptional.
Petroleum Engineering (60 graduates) earns $77,400 year-one and $116,691 year-four with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.349). Median debt of $27,000 is manageable against this trajectory. Mines is one of the nation's leading petroleum engineering programs — graduates enter oil and gas, LNG, and emerging energy transition roles. The four-year earnings figure reflects industry-standard compensation for upstream engineers in Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming.
Petroleum Engineering (15 graduates) earns $69,212 year-one and $106,076 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.390 (ROI grade B). The four-year jump to $106k reflects the energy industry's compensation structure -- petroleum engineers are among the highest-paid engineering graduates nationally. The small cohort limits certainty, but the trajectory is consistent with national PE salary data.
Is Petroleum Engineering Worth It?
The Numbers Support This Major
Petroleum Engineering delivers above-average financial returns. Average earnings of $69,253 four years out put graduates in a strong position to handle student debt and build wealth. The ROI is solid, though school choice and specialization within the field matter.
This is a more specialized field, offered at 20 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.
The top school for this major by earnings is University of Tulsa, where graduates earn $145,353 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.
Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.