Colorado School of Mines
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".
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Average net price: $29,925
- Undergraduate enrollment: 6,106
- Graduation rate (150%): 82%
- Graduation rate (200%): 84%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 84%
- Student to faculty ratio: 18:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $97,335
- Median earnings (8 years): $90,777
- Median earnings (6 years): $82,950
- Control: Public
- Locale: Suburb, large
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Golden, CO
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Colorado School of Mines include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering.
- Mechanical Engineering (301 bachelor's) · median earnings $97,087 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,000
- Computer Science (272 bachelor's) · median earnings $127,217 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,500
- Chemical Engineering (112 bachelor's) · median earnings $94,598 4 years after graduation · median debt $26,798
- Electrical Engineering (87 bachelor's) · median earnings $106,012 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Civil Engineering (71 bachelor's) · median earnings $94,228 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,402
- Engineering Physics (71 bachelor's) · median earnings $97,497 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Geological (44 bachelor's) · median earnings $88,484 4 years after graduation · median debt $27,000
- Biological (39 bachelor's) · median earnings $116,691 4 years after graduation · median debt $26,500
- Computational and Applied Mathematics (39 bachelor's) · median earnings $98,190 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Environmental (37 bachelor's) · median earnings $87,278 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,250
Degree mix: Business 0%, Engineering 78%, Computer Science 20%, Biological Sciences 1%, Other 1%.
Award levels offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Colorado School of Mines students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $16,849 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $16,849
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $18,162
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $22,192
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $28,183
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $35,112
- In-state tuition and fees: $21,914
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $45,824
- Books and supplies: $1,500
- On-campus room and board: $17,531
- Off-campus room and board: $16,785
- Off-campus with family: $3,105
- Typical cost of attendance: $40,560
- Sticker vs net gap: 26%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 14%
- Federal loan recipients: 32%
- Average institutional grant: $10,673
- Average federal loan: $6,387
- Median debt at graduation: $23,000
Admissions
Colorado School of Mines admits 61% of applicants. Of students admitted, 23% enrolled.
- Applications: 11,436
- Admitted: 6,940
- Enrolled: 1,602
- Yield (first-choice signal): 23%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 6,106
- Women: 32%
- Commuter share (estimated): 62%
- Part-time undergraduates: 4%
- Age 25 and older: 3%
- Graduate students: 1,373
- Graduation rate: 82%
- Come back after freshman year: 93%
- First-generation: 15%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 44%
- Student to faculty: 18:1
- Professor salary: $169,733
- Associate professor salary: $124,027
- Assistant professor salary: $107,121
- On-campus housing capacity: 2,330
- Meal plan meals per week: 19
- Average SAT: 1,400
- Average ACT: 32
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Colorado School of Mines acceptance rate? Colorado School of Mines admits 61% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Colorado School of Mines cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $16,849 a year after aid. Average net price is $29,925.
What majors does Colorado School of Mines offer? Popular programs include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering.
What is the average salary after Colorado School of Mines? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $97,335 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Colorado School of Mines graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 84% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 82%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Colorado School of Mines official site: https://www.mines.edu.