Petroleum Engineering Degree in Kansas City, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Kansas City, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$116K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Kansas City, KS Overview
Kansas City, Kansas (pop. 156,607) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 82.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $405/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 Kansas City is approximately $41,250, growing to $115,500 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,267/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,093/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
61%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Kansas City
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Kansas City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Kansas City avg aid: $14,093/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$979,432
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,072,500) minus total education cost ($93,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for Petroleum Engineering
Kansas City State University
public
$9,282/yr
$37,128 total
University of Kansas City
public
$9,330/yr
$37,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kansas City Community College
$5,644/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Kansas City
Kansas City offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kansas City Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Kansas City
Computer Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$68K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$41K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Kansas City — 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 Kansas City.