Petroleum Engineering Degree in Olathe, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Olathe, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$136K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
in Olathe
Cost of Living
96.8
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Olathe, KS Overview
Olathe, Kansas (pop. 141,290) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 96.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Olathe is approximately $48,400, growing to $135,520 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,602/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,861/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
74%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Olathe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Olathe's cost of living index of 96.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Olathe adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Olathe
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Olathe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Olathe avg aid: $14,861/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,520
vs HS diploma in Olathe
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Olathe
$1,163,992
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,258,400) minus total education cost ($94,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Olathe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Olathe for Petroleum Engineering
Olathe State University
public
$10,248/yr
$40,992 total
University of Olathe
public
$10,626/yr
$42,504 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Olathe Community College
$5,283/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Olathe
Olathe offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Olathe Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$41K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Olathe
Computer Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$79K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$77K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$77K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Olathe — 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 Olathe.