U.S. median for this major: $102,594.
College Scorecard field of study; 67 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 29% 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 $26,415. College Scorecard.
West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 West Virginia colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 West Virginia University'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 | $9,450 | $40,919 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $12,501 | $54,129 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $14,179 | $61,395 | 1.1 years |
| $75–110k | $18,710 | $81,014 | 1.4 years |
| $110k+ | $20,273 | $87,782 | 1.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (43% 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 ($91,142) minus $32,695 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WV (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $58,447 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.
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 West Virginia University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About West Virginia University
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,939
- Full cost breakdown · all 89 majors · overview
Related majors at West Virginia University
- Civil Engineering$82,117
- Mechanical Engineering$90,461
- Electrical Engineering$99,542
- Computer Engineering$99,048
- Biomedical Engineering—
- Chemical Engineering$96,503
West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering questions
How much do West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering graduates earn?
Petroleum Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median $91,142 four years after graduating and $68,913 one year after. The U.S. median for Petroleum Engineering graduates across 19 colleges is $102,594.
How much debt do West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Petroleum Engineering graduates of West Virginia University is $26,000, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,875.
Where does West Virginia University rank for Petroleum Engineering in West Virginia?
Of 1 West Virginia colleges reporting Petroleum Engineering graduate earnings, West Virginia University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Petroleum Engineering graduates get?
A common career is architectural and engineering managers, with a median wage of $149,430 in West Virginia and $171,270 nationally. Others include petroleum engineers.
Is West Virginia University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing West Virginia University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/west-virginia-university/majors/petroleum-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).