Petroleum Engineering Degree in Indianapolis, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Indianapolis, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$132K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Indianapolis
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Indianapolis, IN Overview
Indianapolis is one of Indiana's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 38,913. Public tuition averages $9,944/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 Indianapolis is approximately $47,000, growing to $131,600 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$9,944/yr
Private Tuition
$39,815/yr
Room & Board
$12,486/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,595/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
56%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Indianapolis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Indianapolis's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Indianapolis adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Indianapolis
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Indianapolis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,944 | Private avg: $39,815
Indianapolis avg aid: $12,595/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,720
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,100
vs HS diploma in Indianapolis
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Indianapolis
$1,132,280
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,222,000) minus total education cost ($89,720)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Indianapolis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Indianapolis for Petroleum Engineering
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
public
$9,944/yr
$39,776 total
Butler University
private
$46,710/yr
$186,840 total
University of Indianapolis
private
$32,920/yr
$131,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Indianapolis
Indianapolis offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Indianapolis Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Indiana Cities
Fort Wayne, IN
$52K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
Evansville, IN
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
South Bend, IN
$45K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$53K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$50K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$42K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$47K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$42K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Indianapolis
Computer Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$77K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Indianapolis — 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 Indianapolis.