Petroleum Engineering Degree in Greensboro, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Greensboro, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$127K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Greensboro
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Greensboro, NC Overview
Greensboro, North Carolina (pop. 299,035) has 17 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $945/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 Greensboro is approximately $45,500, growing to $127,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$7,000/yr
Private Tuition
$35,007/yr
Room & Board
$11,140/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,503/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
71%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Greensboro (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Greensboro's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Greensboro adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Greensboro
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Greensboro tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,000 | Private avg: $35,007
Greensboro avg aid: $14,503/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,560
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,650
vs HS diploma in Greensboro
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Greensboro
$1,110,440
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,183,000) minus total education cost ($72,560)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Greensboro
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Greensboro for Petroleum Engineering
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
public
$7,337/yr
$29,348 total
North Carolina A&T State University
public
$6,662/yr
$26,648 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Guilford Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Greensboro
Greensboro offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Greensboro 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
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 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 Greensboro
Computer Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Greensboro — 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 Greensboro.