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Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Suburb · 6,155 students
4
Year
Public
Suburb
Medium (3k–10k)
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Colorado School of Mines is a top-tier public research university renowned for its rigorous, specialized focus on engineering, applied sciences, and natural resource management. Located in Golden at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the school fosters a tight-knit, collaborative, and outdoorsy student culture where intense academics are balanced with easy access to hiking and skiing. Mines boasts world-class programs in mining, petroleum, mechanical, and geological engineering, consistently delivering exceptional career outcome rates and some of the highest starting salaries in the nation. The university is uniquely characterized by traditions like the annual "M" Climb, where incoming freshmen carry a rock from their hometown up Mount Zion, showcasing the school's strong community spirit and rich heritage.


Wikipedia:The Colorado School of Mines (Mines) is a public research university in Golden, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1874, the school offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, and mathematics, with a focus on energy and the environment. While Mines does offer undergraduate minor programs in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, it only offers degree programs in STEM fields, with the exception of economics. In the fall 2025 semester, the school enrolled 8,247 students, including 6,371 undergraduate and 1,876 graduate students. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

Location
Golden, CO, 80401 · Suburb campus
Nearest airport from college
DEN · Denver
30 mi away
Cost
In-state COA
$40,560
Out-of-state COA
$64,470
Avg net price
$28,690
Room & board
$17,531
In-state tuition
$21,914
Out-of-state tuition
$45,824
Books & supplies
$1,500/yr
Average net price by family income
$0–30k
$16,849
$30–48k
$18,162
$48–75k
$22,192
$75–110k
$28,183
$110k+
$35,112
Admissions
Admit rate
61%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1412
Reading 650730
Math 670750
ACT midpoint
31
Composite 2933
English 2835
Math 2834
SAT range (25th–75th percentile)
40080012001600

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Essay Requirements

Colorado School of Mines accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes
Graduation rate
81%
4-yr on-time completion
67%
1st-yr retention
93%
Transfer-out rate
14%
8-year outcomes
Graduated
84%
Transferred
13%
Still enrolled
0%
Dropped out / unknown
3%
Median earnings (6yr)
$82,950
Median earnings (10yr)
$97,335
Median debt
$23,000
Monthly loan payment
$244
Debt range (25th–75th)
$10,250$28,000
Debt (90th percentile)
$35,500
Student Body
Men 68%Women 32%
18
:
1
Student : Faculty ratio
Students   Faculty
Pell grant recipients
14%
First-generation
15%
Median family income
$95,766
Independent students
12%
Avg age at entry
20.0
Part-time students
4%
Race & ethnicity
White
68%
Hispanic
14%
Black
1%
Asian
6%
Two or more
6%
Non-resident
3%
Unknown
1%
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings for graduates across all programs
6 years after entry
$82,950
10 years after entry
$97,335
Mechanical Engineering321
Computer Science222
Chemical Engineering149
Civil Engineering83
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering80
Metallurgical Engineering61
Petroleum Engineering60
Engineering Physics53
Geological/Geophysical Engineering46
Applied Mathematics32
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering30
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology20
Engineering, General17
Mining and Mineral Engineering17
Chemistry15
Economics5
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Endowment
$386M
Classification
R1: Very High Research
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions
Full-time faculty
73%
Avg faculty salary
$14,000/mo
Instructional spend/student
$20,431
Federal loan rate
32%

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