Petroleum Engineering.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Debt to Income Ratio
Why Petroleum Engineering. stands out: With a debt-to-income ratio of just 29.7%, graduates of this program typically enjoy manageable student loan payments compared to their first-year earnings. This low ratio means that, on average, students who complete Petroleum Engineering. can expect to pay off their student debt faster and with less financial stress than most other fields. Programs with a DTI below 0.5 are considered excellent by financial experts, making this degree a smart investment for your future.
For example, with a median salary of $84069 and average student debt of $24952, the financial outlook for Petroleum Engineering. graduates is especially strong in .
Key Insights
Petroleum Engineering. is a program that attracts motivated students who want to make an impact. Starting pay for new grads is typically $84069, and with an average debt of $24952, the debt-to-income ratio comes in at 0.3—meaning you’ll have lots of flexibility after graduation.
This program sees about 941 graduates annually, so you’ll be joining a well-established network. A common next step is a career as a Petroleum Engineers, which is expected to see 1.0% growth. Whether you’re aiming for a high-paying job, a stable career, or a chance to make an impact, Petroleum Engineering. is a great foundation. Remember, your journey is shaped by the opportunities you pursue—so get involved and stay curious!
Degree Overview
Petroleum Engineering (CIP 14.2501) is a specialized engineering field focused on the exploration, extraction, and production of oil and natural gas. While geologists locate the resources, petroleum engineers design the complex systems used to bring those resources from miles beneath the earth to the surface. It is a field for "subsurface architects" who manage massive pressures, high temperatures, and multi-million dollar equipment to power the global economy.
This field is ideal for "high-stakes strategists"—individuals who enjoy complex physics and want a career that often involves working on the world’s most advanced industrial projects, from offshore platforms to remote desert sites.
What Is a Petroleum Engineering Degree?
A degree in Petroleum Engineering focuses on the physics of porous media and fluid flow. You will study how to drill safely into high-pressure reservoirs, how to maximize the amount of oil recovered from a field, and how to use data science to monitor underground movements. It is a rigorous STEM major that combines chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and geophysics. In recent years, the degree has evolved to include "carbon sequestration"—using the same engineering skills to pump $CO_2$ back underground to combat climate change.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Drilling Engineers" who manage the mechanical process of creating a wellbore
- Develop experts in Reservoir Engineering who use math to predict how much oil is in a field
- Prepare professionals for Production Engineering, focusing on the pumps and valves at the surface
- Study Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for sustainable energy transitions
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that the "easy" oil has already been found; modern engineering is about using high-tech simulations and chemical innovations to reach resources that were previously impossible to access.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Petrophysics—the study of how rocks hold and transmit fluids like oil and water
- Use "Reservoir Simulation" software to create 3D models of underground fluid flow
- Design Completion Systems—the hardware that stabilizes a well and allows it to produce
- Perform Nodal Analysis to optimize the entire flow system from the reservoir to the tank
- Utilize Directional Drilling techniques to steer a drill bit horizontally for miles
- Understand Well Control—the critical safety engineering used to prevent "blowouts"
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a blend of heavy math, geology, and fluid mechanics:
- Properties of Reservoir Fluids: The chemistry of how oil and gas behave under extreme pressure.
- Formation Evaluation: Using sensors (wireline logs) to "see" through rock thousands of feet down.
- Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): Using steam, chemicals, or gas to push more oil out of the ground.
- Drilling Fluids: The chemistry of "mud" used to cool the drill bit and carry rock chips to the surface.
- Geomechanics: The study of how rocks break and deform during the drilling process.
- Energy Economics: Analyzing the financial risk of multi-billion dollar energy projects.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles as high-level technical specialists and project managers in the energy sector.
Common job roles include:
- Reservoir Engineer: Determining the best location for wells and predicting their long-term value.
- Drilling Engineer: Designing the technical plan for how to safely drill through different rock layers.
- Production Engineer: Managing the day-to-day operations of an active oil or gas well.
- Completion Engineer: Overseeing the final stage of well construction to start the flow of oil.
- Petrophysicist: Analyzing data from sensors to determine where the "best" oil is located.
- CCS Engineer: Designing systems to inject and store carbon dioxide deep underground.
Where Can You Work?
Petroleum engineers work for the world's largest energy companies and specialized service firms:
- Major Energy Firms: Companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP.
- Service Companies: Providing high-tech tools for firms like SLB (Schlumberger) and Halliburton.
- Independent Producers: Working for smaller, agile firms focused on specific regions.
- Government Agencies: Working on energy regulation and environmental safety.
- Consulting Firms: Providing financial and technical analysis for energy investors.
How Much Can You Earn?
Petroleum engineering is famous for having some of the highest starting salaries of any undergraduate major.
- Petroleum Engineers: Median annual salary of approximately $130,000–$160,000.
- Senior Reservoir Engineers: Salaries typically range from $150,000 to $200,000+.
- Field Engineers: Often earn $90,000–$120,000 (plus overtime and bonuses for remote work).
- Entry-Level Junior Engineers: Often start between $85,000 and $105,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the mathematical complexity of fluid dynamics. You must be a master of Calculus and Thermodynamics. Because you are dealing with things you cannot see (thousands of feet underground), you must rely entirely on data and physics models. It requires a "disciplined and cautious" mind, as errors in this field can result in significant environmental and financial consequences.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Love Math and Physics and want to see them applied to "giant" industrial problems
- Enjoy working in diverse environments—from high-rise offices to offshore platforms
- Are interested in the "Big Picture" of global energy and economics
- Want a career that offers high financial rewards and global travel opportunities
- Are a "data detective" who enjoys finding patterns in complex sensor readings
How to Prepare in High School
- Take the highest levels of Math (Calculus) and Physics available
- Learn Python or Excel VBA; data management is a huge part of modern petroleum engineering
- Join a chemistry or robotics club
- Practice your Leadership Skills; engineers in this field often manage large teams in the field
- Read about Carbon Capture Technology to see how this field is adapting to the green energy transition
The ability to engineer solutions for the Earth's most complex subsurface environments to provide reliable energy for the world is the hallmark of a successful petroleum engineering professional.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor