Petroleum Engineering at Marietta College

Marietta College's petroleum engineering program stands out nationally, placing graduates in the 95th percentile for earnings despite Ohio having minimal competition in this specialized field. First-year graduates earn $82,205—nearly $15,000 above the national median for petroleum engineers—with manageable debt of $27,000. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.33, meaning graduates earn back their entire debt load in roughly four months of work.

The program's strength lies in its immediate employment outcomes and the technical training needed for an industry willing to pay premium wages. Earnings climb to $88,869 by year four, showing healthy growth despite the industry's cyclical nature tied to oil prices. The $27,000 debt burden sits at the 25th percentile nationally—meaning three-quarters of petroleum engineering programs leave students with more debt—which is remarkable given this field's typically capital-intensive education requirements.

One caveat: this is Ohio's only petroleum engineering program, so the state percentile comparison (60th) reflects a single data point. The national standing matters more here. For families comfortable with energy sector volatility and willing to relocate (petroleum jobs cluster in Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska), this represents a clear positive return on investment. The relatively open admission at Marietta makes this high-earning technical field accessible to students who might not gain entry to more selective engineering schools.