Bachelor's-24% vs national median518 grads tracked
Petroleum Engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Ranked 11th of 15 bachelor's programs in Petroleum Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$76,157
middle 50%: $52,100 – $107,881
Median · 5 years out
$115,337
middle 50%: $90,071 – $156,199
Median · 10 years out
$153,601
middle 50%: $103,697 – $243,575
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 earn a median of $76k initially. Salaries scale significantly to $154k after ten years.
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
3.8 yrs
≈ $4,191 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas Tech University
$167,382 · 5 yrs out
Montana Technological University
$162,461 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$152,398 · 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
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$112,540 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$108,603 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$101,906 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Engineering (Doctorate)
$148,888 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$125,457 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$118,804 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$115,585 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,205 · 5 yrs out
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$106,913 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$102,565 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$102,021 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$101,094 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,590 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$87,615 · 5 yrs out
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