Petroleum Engineeringat Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Graduates earn $56,605/yr in their first year — about 12.0% below the national Petroleum Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $870K; scenarios range from $748K to $909K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at LSU
At $56,605/yr, Petroleum Engineering graduates from Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College land near the $64,106 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 18.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Petroleum Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $24,211 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #11 ranking among 18 Petroleum Engineering programs places Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $56,605-to-$93,513 earnings arc over five years reflects a 65% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to LSU's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Petroleum Engineering
How LSU stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at LSU
Other highest-scoring programs offered at LSU, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Petroleum Engineering at LSU
What does a 67/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Petroleum Engineering at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?
At 67/100, the score looks reasonable — but Petroleum Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Petroleum Engineering at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?
The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.