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Petroleum Engineering at University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,865/yr (-33% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,800 openings/yr)

ROI 20.6x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #16 of 18 Petroleum Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Petroleum Engineering graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$1,016K	$966K	$819K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.7x	20.6x	17.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.6x	8.2x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	49%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,800

Out-of-state: $117,648 (8.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,460

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$93,860

119% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,865 per year, Petroleum Engineering graduates from University of Kansas earn below the $64,106 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 20.6x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #16 out of 18 programs, University of Kansas's financial outcomes for Petroleum Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $42,865 to $93,860 over five years (119% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Kansas

With 88% of applicants admitted, University of Kansas prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 19,857 in Lawrence, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kansas →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Petroleum engineers $141,280/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Petroleum Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Kansas's Petroleum Engineering program score?

A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Kansas trails the majority of Petroleum Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Petroleum Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Petroleum Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Petroleum Engineering earnings lower at University of Kansas?

Lower starting pay at University of Kansas may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →