Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lancaster, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Lancaster, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$151K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Lancaster
Cost of Living
108.2
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Lancaster, CA Overview
Lancaster, California (pop. 173,516) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 108.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,140/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 Lancaster is approximately $54,100, growing to $151,480 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,522/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,181/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
66%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Lancaster (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lancaster's cost of living index of 108.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Lancaster adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Lancaster
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Lancaster tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Lancaster avg aid: $15,181/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$112,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,230
vs HS diploma in Lancaster
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lancaster
$1,294,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,406,600) minus total education cost ($112,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Lancaster
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lancaster for Petroleum Engineering
Lancaster State University
public
$14,869/yr
$59,476 total
University of Lancaster
public
$15,826/yr
$63,304 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lancaster Community College
$6,025/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Lancaster
Lancaster offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lancaster Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lancaster
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$84K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lancaster — 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 Lancaster.