Colorado School of Mines (Mines)
Public four-year university in Golden, CO that costs an average of $32,901 a year after financial aid, admits 61% of applicants and graduates 82% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$32,901
Acceptance rate
61%
Graduation rate
82%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$102,077
PublicLarge suburb6,155 undergraduates
Cost of Mines
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $43,745 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $22,658 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $47,288 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $18,202 |
| Books and supplies | $1,500 |
| Average net price after aid | $32,901 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $21,504 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $22,896 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $23,913 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $28,115 |
| $110,001+ | $38,429 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Mines's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 61% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,412 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 650–730 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 670–750 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 29–33 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 82% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 93% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $87,335 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $102,077 |
| Rank in Colorado (earnings) | 1st of 22 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $21,287 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $242 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 17% |
| Students with federal loans | 32% |
Majors and programs at Mines
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (21)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineering | 88 | $107,179 | $21,452 |
| Computer Science | 494 | $96,085 | $19,500 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | 40 | $88,293 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 167 | $85,923 | $20,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | 261 | $84,538 | $21,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 622 | $78,974 | $20,346 |
| Civil Engineering | 154 | $78,412 | $22,905 |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 97 | $76,232 | $25,802 |
| Engineering Physics | 124 | $74,702 | $26,500 |
| Applied Mathematics | 71 | $72,339 | $20,454 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 67 | $68,616 | $27,000 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | 90 | $64,318 | $27,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 33 | — | $20,500 |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 39 | — | $22,249 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Ceramic Sciences and Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 24 | — | — |
| Economics | 9 | — | — |
| Engineering | 25 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 9 | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (29)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 140 | $109,902 | $28,549 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 29 | $108,978 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 22 | $100,730 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 116 | $98,104 | $20,500 |
| Systems Engineering | 91 | $97,521 | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 93 | $85,953 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 71 | $79,775 | — |
| Civil Engineering | 56 | $76,905 | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 17 | — | — |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 14 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 54 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 9 | — | — |
| Data Science | 32 | — | — |
| Economics | 55 | — | — |
| Engineering | 16 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 20 | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | 66 | — | — |
| Manufacturing Engineering | 26 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 17 | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | 22 | — | — |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 35 | — | — |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | 40 | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering | 14 | — | — |
| Operations Research | — | — | — |
| Petroleum Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Physics | 11 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 6 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (23)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | 5 | — | — |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 20 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 18 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 19 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 13 | — | — |
| Economics | 12 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 20 | — | — |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 28 | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 23 | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | 1 | — | — |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Nuclear Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Operations Research | — | — | — |
| Petroleum Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Physics | 16 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 14 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (18)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 11 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 4 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 11 | — | — |
| Data Science | 21 | — | — |
| Economics | 9 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering | 30 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | 3 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 7 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 42 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 5 | — | — |
| Manufacturing Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | — | — | — |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Systems Engineering | 28 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Colorado
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Global | Denver | $17,732 | 98% | $82,047 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley | $18,711 | 86% | $56,980 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs | $14,954 | 97% | $61,386 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy | — | 14% | — |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver | $10,217 | 75% | $69,387 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango | $20,090 | 77% | $49,164 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | $8,851 | 95% | $58,700 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver | $13,803 | 99% | $57,612 |
About Mines
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Golden, CO |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 6,155 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 18 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | mines.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Mines's acceptance rate?
Colorado School of Mines admits 61% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,412 on the SAT.
How much does Mines cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $43,745 a year (tuition and fees: $22,658 in-state, $47,288 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $32,901 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $21,504.
How much do Mines graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $102,077 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 1st of 22 similar colleges in Colorado. The best-paid bachelor's program is petroleum engineering ($107,179 a year after graduation).
What is Mines's graduation rate?
82% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 93% of first-year students return for a second year.