Petroleum Engineering Degree in Cape Coral, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Cape Coral, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$137K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Cape Coral
Cost of Living
97.8
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Cape Coral, FL Overview
Cape Coral, Florida (pop. 194,016) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 97.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,035/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 Cape Coral is approximately $48,900, growing to $136,920 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$6,400/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,023/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,184/yr
Unemployment
2.7%
Graduation Rate
52%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Cape Coral (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cape Coral's cost of living index of 97.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Cape Coral adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Cape Coral
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Cape Coral tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,400 | Private avg: $30,000
Cape Coral avg aid: $13,184/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,692
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,670
vs HS diploma in Cape Coral
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cape Coral
$1,189,708
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,271,400) minus total education cost ($81,692)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Cape Coral
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cape Coral for Petroleum Engineering
Cape Coral State University
public
$6,313/yr
$25,252 total
University of Cape Coral
public
$6,340/yr
$25,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Coral Community College
$5,542/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Cape Coral
Cape Coral offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cape Coral Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$59K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$49K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$51K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$48K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$49K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$39K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$49K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Cape Coral
Computer Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$49K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Cape Coral — 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 Cape Coral.