Bachelor's · Kingsville, Texas

Is Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2.1 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$73,036
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$83,211
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
Not enough borrowers to report
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$56k (likely $56k – $78k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$47k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in TX
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
2.1 years (likely 1.5–3.0)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
$228k (likely $89k – $399k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$786k (likely $499k – $1.15M)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
45%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

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🏗️ Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward engineering & architecture majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Calculus AB or BC
  • AP Physics 1
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics
  • AP Chemistry

IB Higher Level

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
  • Physics HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.