Bachelor's0% vs national median1,196 grads tracked
Petroleum Engineering at Colorado School of Mines
Ranked 5th of 15 bachelor's programs in Petroleum Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$116,747
middle 50%: $80,509 – $144,153
Median · 5 years out
$152,398
middle 50%: $103,292 – $217,179
Median · 10 years out
$229,087
middle 50%: $141,877 – $325,454
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Petroleum Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Petroleum Engineering graduates from Colorado School of Mines earn a median first-year salary of $117k. This degree path sees earnings rise to $229k by the ten-year mark.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
2.7 yrs
≈ $2,799 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas at Austin
$182,751 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$180,116 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$167,382 · 5 yrs out
Montana Technological University
$162,461 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$136,120 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$131,581 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$120,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$120,591 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$115,337 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$112,540 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado School of Mines
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,731 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Master's)
$128,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$126,300 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$126,300 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$125,817 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$120,072 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$117,947 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,100 · 5 yrs out
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,328 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,609 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$108,135 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$106,226 · 5 yrs out
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