Petroleum Engineering Degree in Brownsville, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Brownsville, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$116K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Brownsville
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Brownsville, TX Overview
Brownsville, Texas (pop. 186,738) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 83 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $868/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 Brownsville is approximately $41,500, growing to $116,200 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$8,416/yr
Private Tuition
$32,593/yr
Room & Board
$12,079/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,908/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
46%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Brownsville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Brownsville's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Brownsville adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Brownsville
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Brownsville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,416 | Private avg: $32,593
Brownsville avg aid: $12,908/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,980
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,450
vs HS diploma in Brownsville
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Brownsville
$997,020
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,079,000) minus total education cost ($81,980)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Brownsville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Brownsville for Petroleum Engineering
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
public
$8,416/yr
$33,664 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Texas Southmost College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Brownsville
Brownsville offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Brownsville Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Brownsville
Computer Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$68K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$65K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Brownsville — 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 Brownsville.