Petroleum Engineering Degree in Thornton, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Thornton, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$144K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Thornton
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Thornton, CO Overview
Thornton, Colorado (pop. 141,867) has 6 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 102.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,335/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 Thornton is approximately $51,250, growing to $143,500 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,219/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,102/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
67%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Thornton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Thornton's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Thornton adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Thornton
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Thornton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Thornton avg aid: $8,102/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,676
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,375
vs HS diploma in Thornton
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Thornton
$1,226,824
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,332,500) minus total education cost ($105,676)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Thornton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Thornton for Petroleum Engineering
Thornton State University
public
$11,406/yr
$45,624 total
University of Thornton
public
$12,917/yr
$51,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Thornton Community College
$5,632/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Thornton
Thornton offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Thornton Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Thornton
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$80K 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 Thornton — 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 Thornton.