Petroleum Engineering Degree in Surprise, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Surprise, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$140K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Surprise
Cost of Living
100.2
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Surprise, AZ Overview
Surprise, Arizona (pop. 143,148) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 100.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,095/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 Surprise is approximately $50,100, growing to $140,280 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,357/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,568/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
49%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Surprise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Surprise's cost of living index of 100.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Surprise adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Surprise
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Surprise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Surprise avg aid: $13,568/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,028
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,030
vs HS diploma in Surprise
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Surprise
$1,199,572
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,302,600) minus total education cost ($103,028)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Surprise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Surprise for Petroleum Engineering
Surprise State University
public
$12,369/yr
$49,476 total
University of Surprise
public
$12,295/yr
$49,180 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Surprise Community College
$5,065/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Surprise
Surprise offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Surprise Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$76K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$58K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$55K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$62K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$60K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$53K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$63K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$52K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Surprise
Computer Engineering
$50K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$50K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$80K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$50K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering
$78K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Petroleum Engineering Degree in Surprise — 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 Surprise.