Petroleum Engineering Degree in Rancho Cucamonga, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Rancho Cucamonga, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$183K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
130.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Rancho Cucamonga, CA Overview
Rancho Cucamonga, California (pop. 177,603) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 130.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,770/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 Rancho Cucamonga is approximately $65,250, growing to $182,700 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,368/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,696/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
50%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Rancho Cucamonga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index of 130.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Rancho Cucamonga adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Rancho Cucamonga
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Rancho Cucamonga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Rancho Cucamonga avg aid: $13,696/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,575
vs HS diploma in Rancho Cucamonga
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rancho Cucamonga
$1,573,028
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,696,500) minus total education cost ($123,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Rancho Cucamonga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rancho Cucamonga for Petroleum Engineering
Rancho Cucamonga State University
public
$14,832/yr
$59,328 total
University of Rancho Cucamonga
public
$15,603/yr
$62,412 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rancho Cucamonga Community College
$6,383/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga
Computer Engineering
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$107K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$65K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$104K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$104K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$102K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$102K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Rancho Cucamonga — 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 Rancho Cucamonga.