Petroleum Engineering Degree in Nashville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Nashville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$129K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Nashville
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Nashville, TN Overview
Nashville is one of Tennessee's top college towns, with 35 institutions and a student population of 23,290. Public tuition averages $9,312/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Nashville is approximately $46,000, growing to $128,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
35
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$50,624/yr
Room & Board
$13,344/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,603/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
74%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Nashville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Nashville's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Nashville adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Nashville
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Nashville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $50,624
Nashville avg aid: $7,603/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,624
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,800
vs HS diploma in Nashville
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Nashville
$1,105,376
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,196,000) minus total education cost ($90,624)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Nashville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Nashville for Petroleum Engineering
Vanderbilt University
private
$60,348/yr
$241,392 total
Belmont University
private
$40,900/yr
$163,600 total
Tennessee State University
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Nashville State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Nashville
Nashville offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Nashville Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Nashville
Computer Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$74K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Nashville — 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 Nashville.