Petroleum Engineering Degree in Aurora, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Aurora, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$155K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Aurora, CO Overview
Aurora is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 20,916. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Petroleum Engineering has been declining, graduates with skills in Reservoir Engineering and Drilling remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Aurora is approximately $55,500, growing to $155,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$47,322/yr
Room & Board
$13,656/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,981/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $47,322
Aurora avg aid: $16,981/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,650
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$1,342,856
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,443,000) minus total education cost ($100,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Petroleum Engineering
University of Colorado Anschutz
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Aurora
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Aurora
Computer Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$91K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$89K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Aurora — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Petroleum Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Aurora.