Petroleum Engineering Degree in Lawton, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Lawton, OK. 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
6.8 yrs
in Lawton
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Lawton, OK Overview
While Lawton has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Petroleum Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,675/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Lawton is approximately $41,250, growing to $115,500 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$8,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,675/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,482/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
74%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Lawton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawton'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.Lawton adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Lawton
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Lawton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Lawton avg aid: $11,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Lawton
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawton
$988,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,072,500) minus total education cost ($84,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Lawton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawton for Petroleum Engineering
Lawton State University
public
$9,205/yr
$36,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lawton Community College
$4,912/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Lawton
Lawton offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawton Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$49K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$42K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Norman, OK
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$48K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$45K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$44K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lawton
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 Lawton — 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 Lawton.