Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $86,761 put The University of Texas at Austin's Petroleum Engineering program 35% above the national median of $64,106 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The 22.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $86,761 far exceeding the $17,239 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #1 ranking out of 18 Petroleum Engineering programs nationally puts The University of Texas at Austin in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $86,761 to $121,692 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.