Colorado School of Mines

8/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Golden, CO
4.6 5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Colorado

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

8,044

Location Golden, Colorado
Website mines.edu
Type Public 4 Year
Setting Large Suburban

Best Colleges Rank

#161

Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Located in Golden, Colorado, 15 miles west of Denver, the Colorado School of Mines occupies a hillside campus with views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded in 1874 to support Colorado's mining industry, the institution has evolved into a public research university specializing in engineering and applied sciences, with particular emphasis on earth sciences, energy resources, and environmental engineering. The campus combines historical stone buildings with modern research facilities across 373 acres, including notable structures such as Guggenheim Hall and the Green Center. Mines maintains highly selective admission standards and is recognized for its programs in petroleum engineering, metallurgical engineering, and geology, while operating specialized research facilities including the Earth Mechanics Institute and the Colorado Fuel Cell Center. First-year students are required to live in on-campus residence halls, and the university competes in NCAA Division II athletics as the Orediggers.

See my Chances for Admission

Ratings

Colorado School of Mines is rated within the top 27% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10.

Overall Rating

8 out of 10
Academics

9 out of 10
Resources

7 out of 10
Outcomes

8 out of 10
Value

6 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Colorado School of Mines within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Elite

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1320/1480
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 29/33
GPA 3.84

Acceptance Rate

60.7%

Applications Due Jan 15, 2027
Enrollment Rate 23.1%
Application Fee $50

Applicant Competition Low

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

View Admission Requirements

Annual Cost to Attend

Colorado Resident Tuition

$21,914

Out of State Resident Tuition

$45,824

Breakdown

Tuition $21,914
Books and Supplies $1,500
Other Fees $2,984
Room and Board $17,531
Budget for Other Expenses $2,800
Total One Year Cost $46,729

View Tuition & Financial Aid Details

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$90,500 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

70% within 6 years

View Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Colorado School of Mines are Engineering, Mathematics, and Social Sciences. 89% of students major in Engineering, 7% in Mathematics, and 2% in Social Sciences.