Field of study · CIP 14.25
Petroleum Engineering
Offered at 60 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 3 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 25 | $89,188 | $113,666 | $25,000 |
| Master's | 17 | — | — | — |
| Doctoral | 14 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 1 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Tulsa | OK | — | $144,071 | — |
| 2 | Texas Tech University | TX | — | $143,541 | $18,375 |
| 3 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | TX | $100,059 | $139,125 | $29,250 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $87,445 | $135,581 | $17,977 |
| 5 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | OK | $89,188 | $135,111 | — |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $96,207 | $134,066 | $17,902 |
| 7 | Colorado School of Mines | CO | $107,179 | $127,067 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Montana Technological University | MT | — | $123,286 | — |
| 9 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | LA | $99,842 | $117,373 | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Wyoming | WY | — | $116,694 | — |
| 11 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | LA | $92,902 | $110,639 | — |
| 12 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | TX | $67,996 | $108,259 | — |
| 13 | Marietta College | OH | $87,881 | $107,885 | $27,000 |
| 14 | University of Kansas | KS | — | $105,421 | — |
| 15 | University of Houston | TX | $96,730 | $104,583 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | — | $228,620 | — |
| 2 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | OK | $127,412 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Civil EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $89,879Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $104,754Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $96,217Engineering, OtherBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $97,855Engineering, GeneralBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $92,793Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $99,147Computer EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $115,326Materials EngineeringBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $97,394
Quick answers
- How much do petroleum engineering graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in petroleum engineering reports median earnings of $89,188. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
