Petroleum Engineering at Montana Technological University
MT · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.25
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Petroleum Engineering degree from Montana Technological University earn a median salary of $162,461 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $156,062. The degree typically pays for itself in 1.8 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
$104,173
Typical Career
$162,461
Top Performers
$224,030
Estimated to break even in under 3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$1,083
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $13,538. Most students can comfortably afford about a $1,083 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 4.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 2.1x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Montana buys what costs $1.04 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Mining, Quarrying & Oil/Gas Extraction, Health Care & Social Assistance.
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
$156,062
Nominal: $162,461 in Montana (COL 104.1% of national avg) · 3.9% lower 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 | $84,201 | $118,370 | $144,470 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $104,173 | $162,461 | $224,030 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $155,958 | $245,627 | $326,537 |
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 $162,461 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MT, which has a cost-of-living index of 104.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $162,461 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0410)
= $156,062 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (17.8%), Mining, Quarrying & Oil/Gas Extraction (14.6%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (13.1%). Given the estimated break-even point of about 1.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Petroleum Engineering is favorable. This combination of strong earnings potential and industry demand suggests that students can expect a solid financial return on their educational investment.
Compare with Another School
See how the Petroleum Engineering degree at Montana Technological 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.
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