Colorado School of Mines vs. DU

Should I go to Colorado School of Mines or University of Denver? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado School of Mines or DU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

CU Boulder CU Denver UT Austin Cal Poly South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Colorado State UW-Seattle AU USD Gonzaga Creighton University Wisconsin
Colorado School of Mines vs. University of Denver comparison
Colorado School of Mines University of Denver College 3 College 4
Colorado School of Mines University of Denver
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colorado School of Mines DU
Location Golden, CO Denver, CO
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 7,599 13,387
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #159 #86
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mines.edu du.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado School of Mines DU
Tuition (In State) $18,390 $58,032
Tuition (Out of State) $41,580 $58,032
Room & Board $16,820 $17,049
Avg Net Price $29,785 $43,324
Avg Grant Aid $11,204 $32,023
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 99%

Admission

Colorado School of Mines DU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,821 19,214
Admitted 5,864 13,679
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 71.2%
Enrolled % 24.7% 10.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.72
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/33 29/32
SAT Range 1320/1470 1240/1410
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Colorado School of Mines DU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (89%)
  • Mathematics (7%)
  • Social Sciences (2%)
  • Physical Sciences (1%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Colorado School of Mines DU
Graduation Rate 70% 78%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $90,500 $63,400
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,699
Median Loan Payment $268 $245

Diversity

Colorado School of Mines DU
% Men 16% 17%
% Women 7% 35%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 75% 67%
% Black 1% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Colorado School of Mines DU
% In-State 49% 28%
% Out-of-State 47% 69%

Campus

Colorado School of Mines DU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Denver is larger than than Colorado School of Mines based on total student enrollment (13,387 students vs. 7,599 students)

Colorado School of Mines vs. DU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado School of Mines or DU?

  • University of Denver is 215.6% more expensive to attend than Colorado School of Mines for in-state tuition ($58,032.00 vs. $18,390.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.6% higher at DU than Colorado School of Mines ($58,032.00 vs. $41,580.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado School of Mines than DU ($29,785 vs. $43,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado School of Mines are 1.4% lower than costs at University of Denver ($16,820 vs. $17,049)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Denver than Colorado School of Mines (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Denver students is 185.8% larger than aid received Colorado School of Mines ($32,023 vs. $11,204)

Colorado School of Mines vs. DU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado School of Mines or DU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between DU or Colorado School of Mines .

  • The average SAT score at Colorado School of Mines (1339) is 90 points higher than at DU (1249)
  • Incoming Colorado School of Mines students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at DU (28)
  • 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 (71.2%) than Colorado School of Mines (59.7%)

Colorado School of Mines vs. DU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado School of Mines or DU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between DU and Colorado School of Mines.

  • The graduation rate at DU is higher than Colorado School of Mines (78% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Colorado School of Mines earn on average $27,100 more per year than DU graduates after ten years. ($90,500 vs. $63,400)
  • University of Denver students graduate with a $2,301 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado School of Mines graduates. ($23,699 vs. $26,000)
  • DU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans 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/