Petroleum Engineering Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$179K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Denver
Cost of Living
128
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Denver, CO Overview
Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. Public tuition averages $11,380/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 Denver is approximately $64,000, growing to $179,200 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$49,039/yr
Room & Board
$14,960/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,823/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
65%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Denver
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039
Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,200
vs HS diploma in Denver
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Denver
$1,558,640
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,664,000) minus total education cost ($105,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Denver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Denver for Petroleum Engineering
University of Colorado Denver
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
University of Denver
private
$56,268/yr
$225,072 total
Regis University
private
$41,810/yr
$167,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Denver
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Denver
Denver offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Denver Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Colorado Cities
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 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 Denver
Computer Engineering
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$105K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$102K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$102K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$100K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Denver — 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 Denver.