U.S. median for this major: $102,594.
College Scorecard field of study; 54 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 12% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,875.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $31,247. College Scorecard.
The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Petroleum Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses The University of Texas at Austin's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,553 | $52,723 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $14,297 | $60,047 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $17,207 | $72,269 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $24,406 | $102,505 | 1.0 years |
| $110k+ | $30,082 | $126,344 | 1.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Petroleum Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($139,867) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $106,351 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Petroleum Engineering at Texas colleges
Every Texas college we cover that reports Petroleum Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin | $139,867 | $17,239 | $19,857 | 89% |
| 2 | Texas Tech University | $139,864 | $26,090 | $19,070 | 69% |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College Station | $114,686 | $19,000 | $21,315 | 84% |
| 4 | University of Houston | $94,651 | $23,366 | $14,276 | 65% |
| 5 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | $77,469 | — | $12,090 | 42% |
2 more Texas colleges offer Petroleum Engineering but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Petroleum Engineering graduates
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Petroleum Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at The University of Texas at Austin, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance rate: 27% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 89% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $75,121
- Full cost breakdown · all 101 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Texas at Austin
- Civil Engineering$95,271
- Mechanical Engineering$104,523
- Electrical Engineering$146,003
- Biomedical Engineering$102,544
- Chemical Engineering$115,423
The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Engineering questions
How much do The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Engineering graduates earn?
Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University of Texas at Austin earn a median $139,867 four years after graduating and $86,761 one year after. The U.S. median for Petroleum Engineering graduates across 19 colleges is $102,594.
How much debt do The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University of Texas at Austin is $17,239, about 12% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,875.
Is The University of Texas at Austin a good school for Petroleum Engineering in Texas?
On pay, Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University of Texas at Austin earn $139,867 four years out, $25,181 above the median for the same major across 5 Texas colleges ($114,686) and $37,273 above the U.S. median ($102,594). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does The University of Texas at Austin rank for Petroleum Engineering in Texas?
Of 5 Texas colleges reporting Petroleum Engineering graduate earnings, The University of Texas at Austin ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Petroleum Engineering graduates get?
A common career is architectural and engineering managers, with a median wage of $176,540 in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX area and $171,270 nationally. Others include petroleum engineers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/petroleum-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).