Petroleum Engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico Tech's petroleum engineering program shows dramatic earnings growth—from $42,325 in year one to $83,781 by year four—but that first-year number should concern any parent. While graduates eventually reach solid mid-career earnings, they start at the 5th percentile nationally for petroleum engineers, who typically command strong salaries right out of school. The $28,756 in debt is manageable and actually below average for the field, but the weak initial earnings create an uncomfortable financial stretch during those crucial first years after graduation.

The state percentile ranking (60th) is misleading since New Mexico Tech is the only school in the state offering this degree. The real comparison is national, where this program lags significantly behind peers—the typical petroleum engineering graduate nationwide earns $67,567 in year one, more than 50% higher. This gap suggests either weaker industry connections or graduates taking entry-level positions that don't fully leverage their specialized training.

Here's the practical question: can your family manage 2-3 years of modest earnings before the salary jumps? The small sample size (under 30 graduates) also means a few outliers could skew these numbers either way. If your student is committed to petroleum engineering and prefers staying in-state, this is your only option in New Mexico—but the weak first-year outcomes suggest considering out-of-state programs with stronger industry placement, especially if graduation timing matters financially.