Petroleum Engineering Degree in Saint Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Saint Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$142K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Saint Paul
Cost of Living
101.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Saint Paul, MN Overview
Saint Paul, Minnesota (pop. 311,527) has 11 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 101.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/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 Saint Paul is approximately $50,750, growing to $142,100 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,478/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
47%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Saint Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Saint Paul's cost of living index of 101.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Saint Paul adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Saint Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Saint Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Saint Paul avg aid: $13,478/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,484
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,225
vs HS diploma in Saint Paul
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Saint Paul
$1,210,016
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,319,500) minus total education cost ($109,484)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Saint Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Saint Paul for Petroleum Engineering
Saint Paul State University
public
$13,811/yr
$55,244 total
University of Saint Paul
public
$13,351/yr
$53,404 total
Saint Paul Institute of Technology
private
$43,387/yr
$173,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul Community College
$5,443/yr
Minnesota Technical College - Saint Paul
$5,156/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Saint Paul
Saint Paul offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Saint Paul 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
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
Plymouth, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Saint Paul
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Saint Paul — 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 Saint Paul.