Petroleum Engineering Degree in Fayetteville, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Fayetteville, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.9 yrs
in Fayetteville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Fayetteville, NC Overview
Fayetteville, North Carolina (pop. 208,501) has 15 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $877/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 Fayetteville is approximately $45,000, growing to $126,000 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$5,925/yr
Private Tuition
$37,000/yr
Room & Board
$10,494/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,488/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Fayetteville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fayetteville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Fayetteville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Fayetteville
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Fayetteville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,925 | Private avg: $37,000
Fayetteville avg aid: $14,488/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$65,676
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,500
vs HS diploma in Fayetteville
ROI Payback Period
4.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fayetteville
$1,104,324
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,170,000) minus total education cost ($65,676)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Fayetteville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fayetteville for Petroleum Engineering
Fayetteville State University
public
$5,925/yr
$23,700 total
Methodist University
private
$37,000/yr
$148,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fayetteville Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Fayetteville
Fayetteville offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fayetteville Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Fayetteville
Computer Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$72K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Fayetteville — 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 Fayetteville.