Petroleum Engineering graduates from Texas Tech University earn $139,864 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $24,850.
Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Texas Tech University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Petroleum Engineering at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 43 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Texas Tech University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $139,864 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $106,077 across all institutions offering Petroleum Engineering, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Texas Tech University, the mean median-earnings figure is $68,626, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Petroleum Engineering graduates at Texas Tech University is $24,850, which translates to roughly $207 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Petroleum Engineering at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tulsa | $145,353 | $26,950 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $139,867 | $17,239 |
| Texas Tech University (this school) | $139,864 | $24,850 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | $123,416 | $23,000 |
| Colorado School of Mines | $116,691 | $26,500 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | $114,686 | $18,969 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | $113,669 | $22,837 |
| Montana Technological University | $106,076 | $27,000 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $103,421 | $24,211 |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $102,594 | $20,500 |
Other Programs at Texas Tech University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineering (current) | $139,864 | $24,850 |
| Information Science/Studies | $118,405 | $23,017 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $113,062 | $19,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $110,865 | $32,703 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $107,110 | $26,000 |
| Construction Engineering | $102,312 | $24,446 |
| Law | $100,716 | $86,163 |
| Chemical Engineering | $99,747 | $27,232 |
| Industrial Engineering | $98,266 | $28,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $98,113 | $25,000 |
Other Schools with Petroleum Engineering
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.