Bachelor's-24% vs national median599 grads tracked
Petroleum Engineering at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 10th of 15 bachelor's programs in Petroleum Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$94,851
middle 50%: $67,288 – $131,825
Median · 5 years out
$116,440
middle 50%: $90,553 – $165,316
Median · 10 years out
$223,702
middle 50%: $143,860 – $310,262
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 command a high $95k starting median. Ten-year earnings climb significantly to $224k.
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
3.3 yrs
≈ $3,517 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
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
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$108,603 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$101,906 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$113,053 · 5 yrs out
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