Bachelor's-33% vs national median576 grads tracked
Petroleum Engineering at University of Houston
Ranked 15th of 15 bachelor's programs in Petroleum Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$74,219
middle 50%: $48,791 – $100,908
Median · 5 years out
$101,906
middle 50%: $76,504 – $135,295
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report
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 $74k median in year one. Five-year median salaries reach $102k.
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
4.1 yrs
≈ $4,430 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
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
Other majors at University of Houston
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$159,652 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$159,195 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,697 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$145,471 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$145,471 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,316 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$138,576 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Master's)
$133,590 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$131,541 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,568 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$125,035 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$124,247 · 5 yrs out
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