Petroleum Engineeringat University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Graduates earn $49,781/yr in their first year — about 22.0% below the national Petroleum Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,113K; scenarios range from $927K to $1,178K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Starting salaries of $49,781/yr fall 22% below the $64,106 national median for Petroleum Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 26.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 21% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Petroleum Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $20,500 in median debt against $49,781 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #12 ranking among 18 Petroleum Engineering programs places University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $49,781-to-$110,398 earnings arc over five years reflects a 122% 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette'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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Petroleum Engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
What does a 67/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Petroleum Engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette?
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.
Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette a good choice for Petroleum Engineering despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of Louisiana at Lafayette's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.