Petroleum Engineering Degree in Vancouver, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Petroleum Engineering degree analysis for Vancouver, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$152K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Vancouver
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Petroleum Engineering in Vancouver, WA Overview
Vancouver, Washington (pop. 190,915) has 7 colleges offering Petroleum Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,260/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 Vancouver is approximately $54,250, growing to $151,900 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,054/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,206/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Petroleum Engineering Salary in Vancouver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Vancouver's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Petroleum Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $140,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Vancouver adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Petroleum Engineering ROI Calculator for Vancouver
Estimate your return on investment for a Petroleum Engineering degree using local Vancouver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Vancouver avg aid: $15,206/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,416
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,275
vs HS diploma in Vancouver
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Vancouver
$1,303,084
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,410,500) minus total education cost ($107,416)
Student Loan Payoff for Petroleum Engineering in Vancouver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Vancouver for Petroleum Engineering
Vancouver State University
public
$12,455/yr
$49,820 total
University of Vancouver
public
$11,321/yr
$45,284 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Vancouver Community College
$6,084/yr
Top Employers for Petroleum Engineering in Vancouver
Vancouver offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Petroleum Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Vancouver Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Petroleum Engineering Job Titles
Petroleum Engineering in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Vancouver
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$89K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$87K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$87K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$85K 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 Vancouver — 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 Vancouver.