Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $52,295 place University of Houston below the $64,106 national median for Petroleum Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The 21.6x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $52,295 far exceeding the $22,233 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #14 out of 18 programs, University of Houston's financial outcomes for Petroleum Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $52,295 to $88,652 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.