Petroleum Engineering Degree in Fort Collins, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Fort Collins, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$63K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$176K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Fort Collins
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Fort Collins, CO Overview
While Fort Collins has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Petroleum Engineering students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,826/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Fort Collins is approximately $63,000, growing to $176,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,138/yr
Private Tuition
$33,574/yr
Room & Board
$19,826/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,695/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Fort Collins (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Collins's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Fort Collins adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Fort Collins
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Fort Collins tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,138 | Private avg: $33,574
Fort Collins avg aid: $10,695/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,900
vs HS diploma in Fort Collins
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Collins
$1,510,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,638,000) minus total education cost ($127,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Fort Collins
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Collins for Petroleum Engineering
Colorado State University
public
$12,138/yr
$48,552 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Front Range Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Fort Collins
Fort Collins offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Collins 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
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 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 Fort Collins
Computer Engineering
$63K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$103K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$63K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$101K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$101K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$98K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$63K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$63K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Fort Collins — 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 Fort Collins.