Petroleum Engineering Degree in Garden Grove, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Garden Grove, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$210K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Garden Grove
Cost of Living
150.3
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Garden Grove, CA Overview
Garden Grove, California (pop. 172,646) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 150.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,160/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 Garden Grove is approximately $75,150, growing to $210,420 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,153/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,754/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
66%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Garden Grove (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Garden Grove's cost of living index of 150.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Garden Grove adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Garden Grove
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Garden Grove tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Garden Grove avg aid: $9,754/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,612
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,545
vs HS diploma in Garden Grove
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Garden Grove
$1,827,288
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,953,900) minus total education cost ($126,612)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Garden Grove
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Garden Grove for Petroleum Engineering
Garden Grove State University
public
$13,746/yr
$54,984 total
University of Garden Grove
public
$14,677/yr
$58,708 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Garden Grove Community College
$6,550/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Garden Grove
Garden Grove offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Garden Grove Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Garden Grove
Computer Engineering
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$123K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$120K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$120K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$117K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$117K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Garden Grove — 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 Garden Grove.