Petroleum Engineering Degree in Colorado Springs, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Colorado Springs, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$171K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Colorado Springs, CO Overview
Colorado Springs is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 22,576. Public tuition averages $5,325/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 Colorado Springs is approximately $61,000, growing to $170,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$5,325/yr
Private Tuition
$62,070/yr
Room & Board
$15,455/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,479/yr
Unemployment
5%
Graduation Rate
71%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Colorado Springs (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Colorado Springs's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Colorado Springs adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Colorado Springs
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Colorado Springs tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,325 | Private avg: $62,070
Colorado Springs avg aid: $13,479/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$83,120
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,300
vs HS diploma in Colorado Springs
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Colorado Springs
$1,502,880
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,586,000) minus total education cost ($83,120)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Colorado Springs
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Colorado Springs for Petroleum Engineering
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
public
$10,650/yr
$42,600 total
Colorado College
private
$62,070/yr
$248,280 total
United States Air Force Academy
public
$0/yr
$0 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pikes Peak State College
$4,056/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Colorado Springs 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
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 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 Colorado Springs
Computer Engineering
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$100K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$98K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$98K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$95K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Colorado Springs — 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 Colorado Springs.