Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$112K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.8 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/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 Lake Charles is approximately $40,000, growing to $112,000 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
7.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$946,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,040,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Petroleum Engineering
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lake Charles
Computer Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lake Charles — 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 Lake Charles.