Colorado School of Mines vs. University of Northern Colorado

Deciding between Colorado School of Mines and University of Northern Colorado? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Colorado School of Mines
University of Northern Colorado

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO
  • University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
  • Setting
  • Colorado School of Mines Large Suburban
  • University of Northern Colorado Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado School of Mines 8,044
  • University of Northern Colorado 8,869
  • Type
  • Colorado School of Mines Public 4 Year
  • University of Northern Colorado Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colorado School of Mines #161
  • University of Northern Colorado #680
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colorado School of Mines -
  • University of Northern Colorado -
  • Status
  • Colorado School of Mines Non-profit
  • University of Northern Colorado Non-profit
  • Website
  • Colorado School of Mines mines.edu
  • University of Northern Colorado unco.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • University of Northern Colorado

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colorado School of Mines $21,914
  • University of Northern Colorado $12,416
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colorado School of Mines $45,824
  • University of Northern Colorado $27,266
  • Room & Board
  • Colorado School of Mines $17,531
  • University of Northern Colorado $16,154
  • Average Net Price
  • Colorado School of Mines $29,925
  • University of Northern Colorado $19,376
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colorado School of Mines $12,246
  • University of Northern Colorado $9,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colorado School of Mines 96%
  • University of Northern Colorado 95%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Colorado School of Mines Calculate
  • University of Northern Colorado Calculate
  • Applied
  • Colorado School of Mines 11,436
  • University of Northern Colorado 11,127
  • Admitted
  • Colorado School of Mines 6,940
  • University of Northern Colorado 9,553
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colorado School of Mines 60.7%
  • University of Northern Colorado 85.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Colorado School of Mines 23.1%
  • University of Northern Colorado 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado School of Mines 1400
  • University of Northern Colorado 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado School of Mines 31
  • University of Northern Colorado 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colorado School of Mines 3.84
  • University of Northern Colorado 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colorado School of Mines A-
  • University of Northern Colorado A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colorado School of Mines Exceptional
  • University of Northern Colorado Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colorado School of Mines Low
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • ACT Range
  • Colorado School of Mines 29/33
  • University of Northern Colorado 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • Colorado School of Mines 1320/1480
  • University of Northern Colorado 950/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colorado School of Mines Test optional
  • University of Northern Colorado Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colorado School of Mines Jan 15, 2027
  • University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colorado School of Mines 18:1
  • University of Northern Colorado 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colorado School of Mines
    • Engineering (89%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Social Sciences (2%)
    • Physical Sciences (1%)
  • University of Northern Colorado
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colorado School of Mines 70%
  • University of Northern Colorado 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colorado School of Mines $90,500
  • University of Northern Colorado $44,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colorado School of Mines 87%
  • University of Northern Colorado 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colorado School of Mines $26,000
  • University of Northern Colorado $21,970
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colorado School of Mines $268
  • University of Northern Colorado $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colorado School of Mines 68%
  • University of Northern Colorado 32%
  • % Women
  • Colorado School of Mines 32%
  • University of Northern Colorado 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colorado School of Mines Low
  • University of Northern Colorado Medium
  • HBCU
  • Colorado School of Mines No
  • University of Northern Colorado No
  • % White
  • Colorado School of Mines 75%
  • University of Northern Colorado 56%
  • % Asian
  • Colorado School of Mines 5%
  • University of Northern Colorado 2%
  • % Black
  • Colorado School of Mines 1%
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colorado School of Mines 7%
  • University of Northern Colorado 18%
  • % Native American
  • Colorado School of Mines 0%
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colorado School of Mines 0%
  • University of Northern Colorado 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colorado School of Mines 5%
  • University of Northern Colorado 4%
  • % International
  • Colorado School of Mines 6%
  • University of Northern Colorado 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colorado School of Mines 1%
  • University of Northern Colorado 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colorado School of Mines 51%
  • University of Northern Colorado 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colorado School of Mines 46%
  • University of Northern Colorado 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Northern Colorado is larger than Colorado School of Mines based on total student enrollment (8,869 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 Northern Colorado is in Greeley, CO (Small City setting).
  • Colorado School of Mines is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Northern Colorado is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado School of Mines 18:1; University of Northern Colorado 14:1.

Colorado School of Mines vs. University of Northern Colorado Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado School of Mines or University of Northern Colorado? 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 University of Northern Colorado than Colorado School of Mines ($19,376 vs. $29,925).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Colorado are 7.9% lower than at Colorado School of Mines ($16,154 vs. $17,531).
  • Colorado School of Mines is 76.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Northern Colorado (about $9,498 more per year; $21,914.00 vs. $12,416.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.1% higher at Colorado School of Mines than at University of Northern Colorado (about $18,558 more per year; $45,824.00 vs. $27,266.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado School of Mines than at University of Northern Colorado (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado School of Mines students is 22.6% larger than aid received by University of Northern Colorado students ($12,246 vs. $9,992).

Colorado School of Mines vs. University of Northern Colorado Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado School of Mines or University of Northern Colorado? 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 University of Northern Colorado and Colorado School of Mines.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colorado School of Mines (1400) is 330 points higher than at University of Northern Colorado (1070).
  • Incoming Colorado School of Mines students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 23 at University of Northern Colorado).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado School of Mines 1320/1480; University of Northern Colorado 950/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado School of Mines 29/33; University of Northern Colorado 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colorado School of Mines - Test optional; University of Northern Colorado - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colorado School of Mines Jan 15, 2027; University of Northern Colorado Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colorado School of Mines students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at University of Northern Colorado (3.53).
  • University of Northern Colorado has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than Colorado School of Mines (60.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Colorado School of Mines vs. 13% at University of Northern Colorado.

Colorado School of Mines vs. University of Northern Colorado Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colorado School of Mines and University of Northern Colorado? 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).

  • Colorado School of Mines's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than University of Northern Colorado's (46%).
  • Graduates from Colorado School of Mines earn a median of about $45,900 more per year than University of Northern Colorado graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Northern Colorado graduates have a $4,030 lower median loan debt than Colorado School of Mines graduates ($21,970 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Northern Colorado graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado School of Mines graduates ($227 vs. $268).
  • More Colorado School of Mines graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Northern Colorado students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 62%)

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.