Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lakewood, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Lakewood, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$148K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Lakewood
Cost of Living
105.8
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Lakewood, CO Overview
Lakewood, Colorado (pop. 155,984) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 105.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,395/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 Lakewood is approximately $52,900, growing to $148,120 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,028/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,371/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Lakewood (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lakewood's cost of living index of 105.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Lakewood adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Lakewood
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Lakewood tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Lakewood avg aid: $8,371/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,912
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,870
vs HS diploma in Lakewood
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lakewood
$1,266,488
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,375,400) minus total education cost ($108,912)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Lakewood
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lakewood for Petroleum Engineering
Lakewood State University
public
$11,245/yr
$44,980 total
University of Lakewood
public
$12,683/yr
$50,732 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lakewood Community College
$5,959/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Lakewood
Lakewood offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lakewood Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lakewood
Computer Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$53K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lakewood — 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 Lakewood.