Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University-College Station

Texas A&M's petroleum engineering program shows exactly why this field attracts students despite its volatility: graduates earning around $70,000 in their first year see that figure jump to $123,000 by year four—a 77% increase that outpaces most engineering disciplines. The $19,000 median debt is remarkably low, ranking among the lowest 5% nationally for this program, which means students enter one of the industry's higher-paying careers without the debt burden that often comes with engineering degrees. Among Texas petroleum engineering programs, this sits right at the state median for earnings but with notably lower debt than the typical Texas graduate carries.

The tradeoff here is volatility. Texas A&M's outcomes place solidly in the middle of the pack—neither reaching UT Austin's $87,000 starting point nor falling to the lower-tier programs—but petroleum engineering as a field remains tied to commodity prices that students can't control. That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 provides meaningful cushion during industry downturns, and the four-year earnings trajectory suggests graduates who weather early-career fluctuations can reach six-figure compensation relatively quickly.

For families comfortable with the boom-and-bust nature of energy markets, this represents a financially sound path. The low debt load means students won't be trapped if they need to pivot careers, while the earnings potential rewards those who stay in the industry through its cycles.