Colorado School of Mines vs. DU

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO with University of Denver in Denver, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Denver is larger than Colorado School of Mines based on total student enrollment (12,813 students vs. 8,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, CO (Large Suburban setting); University of Denver is in Denver, CO (Large City setting).
• Colorado School of Mines is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Denver is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado School of Mines 18:1; University of Denver 9:1.

Colorado School of Mines vs. DU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado School of Mines or DU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado School of Mines than DU ($29,925 vs. $45,451).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado School of Mines are 1.3% lower than at University of Denver ($17,531 vs. $17,759).
• University of Denver is 180.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colorado School of Mines (about $39,484 more per year; $61,398.00 vs. $21,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at DU than at Colorado School of Mines (about $15,574 more per year; $61,398.00 vs. $45,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Denver than at Colorado School of Mines (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Denver students is 177.3% larger than aid received by Colorado School of Mines students ($33,955 vs. $12,246).

Colorado School of Mines vs. DU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado School of Mines or DU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between DU and Colorado School of Mines.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colorado School of Mines (1400) is 70 points higher than at DU (1330).
• Incoming Colorado School of Mines students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at DU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado School of Mines 1320/1480; University of Denver 1240/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado School of Mines 29/33; University of Denver 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colorado School of Mines - Test optional; DU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colorado School of Mines Jan 15, 2027; DU Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Colorado School of Mines students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at DU (3.72).
• DU has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than Colorado School of Mines (60.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Colorado School of Mines vs. 9.1% at DU.

Colorado School of Mines vs. DU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colorado School of Mines and DU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Denver's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Colorado School of Mines's (70%).
• Graduates from Colorado School of Mines earn a median of about $27,100 more per year than DU graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $63,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Denver graduates have a $2,301 lower median loan debt than Colorado School of Mines graduates ($23,699 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, DU graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado School of Mines graduates ($245 vs. $268).
• More Colorado School of Mines graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.