Petroleum Engineering Degree in Aurora, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Aurora, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$130K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
92.8
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Aurora, IL Overview
Aurora, Illinois (pop. 180,542) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 92.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $780/month. 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 $46,400, growing to $129,920 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$15,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,856/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,682/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
65%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 92.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 0.93x 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: $15,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Aurora avg aid: $14,682/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$117,024
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,920
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$1,089,376
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,206,400) minus total education cost ($117,024)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Petroleum Engineering
Aurora State University
public
$14,742/yr
$58,968 total
University of Aurora
public
$15,345/yr
$61,380 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Aurora Community College
$5,489/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 Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$55K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Aurora
Computer Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$74K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$46K 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.