Petroleum Engineering Degree in Plymouth, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Plymouth, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$150K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Plymouth
Cost of Living
107.3
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Plymouth, MN Overview
While Plymouth has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Petroleum Engineering students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,754/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 Plymouth is approximately $53,650, growing to $150,220 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,754/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,061/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
71%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Plymouth (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Plymouth's cost of living index of 107.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Plymouth adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Plymouth
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Plymouth tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Plymouth avg aid: $10,061/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,816
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,095
vs HS diploma in Plymouth
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Plymouth
$1,279,084
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,394,900) minus total education cost ($115,816)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Plymouth
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Plymouth for Petroleum Engineering
Plymouth State University
public
$14,111/yr
$56,444 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Plymouth Community College
$6,023/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Plymouth
Plymouth offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Plymouth Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$49K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$51K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$54K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$53K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$50K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$50K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$49K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Plymouth
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$88K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$86K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$86K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Plymouth — 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 Plymouth.