Petroleum Engineering Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$115K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/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 Baton Rouge is approximately $41,000, growing to $114,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,300
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$972,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,066,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Petroleum Engineering
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Baton Rouge
Computer Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$67K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$41K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Baton Rouge — 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 Baton Rouge.