Petroleum Engineering at West Virginia University
WV · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.25
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Petroleum Engineering degree from West Virginia University earn a median salary of $111,311 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WV, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $124,788. The degree typically pays for itself in 2.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$86,306
Typical Career
$111,311
Top Performers
$156,510
Estimated to break even in under 3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$742
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $9,276. Most students can comfortably afford about a $742 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.4x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in West Virginia buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$124,788
Nominal: $111,311 in West Virginia (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $64,950 | $90,316 | $120,818 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $86,306 | $111,311 | $156,510 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $125,925 | $210,320 | $303,948 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $111,311 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WV, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $111,311 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $124,788 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates of this program find opportunities primarily in Health Care & Social Assistance (19.2%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (16.2%), and Educational Services (13.1%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is around 2.8 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Overall, the combination of strong earning potential and a relatively short time to recoup educational costs makes this career path a viable option for students considering their future.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Petroleum Engineering degree at West Virginia University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.