Colorado School Of Mines

Colorado School of Mines admits approximately 59.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 5 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places Colorado School of Mines in the moderately selective category, with admission rates between 50-75%.

The peer median admission rate of 84.6% highlights that Colorado School of Mines maintains more selective standards than typical public institutions, admitting nearly 25 percentage points fewer applicants than similar schools. This level of selectivity reflects the institution's specialized engineering and technology focus, which naturally attracts academically prepared students and allows for more discriminating admission practices.

Students should approach Colorado School of Mines as a moderately competitive option that requires solid academic credentials but remains accessible to well-prepared applicants. The technical curriculum and rigorous academic environment contribute to admission standards that exceed typical public universities.

For prospective students, this selectivity level suggests the need for strong high school preparation in mathematics and sciences, though the 59.7% admission rate indicates that qualified applicants have reasonable chances of acceptance. Students should treat Colorado School of Mines as a match or slight reach school depending on their academic profile, and build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates for backup options.

Colorado School of Mines' published cost of attendance is $38,556 per year, consisting of $44,376 in out-of-state tuition (or $21,186 for Colorado residents), $16,820 for room and board, and $1,500 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $29,240 after financial aid, representing savings of $9,316 from the sticker price.

This net price places Colorado School of Mines well above the peer median of $14,093, creating a $15,147 cost disadvantage compared to similar public institutions. The higher net costs reflect the specialized nature of engineering education and the institution's position as a technical specialty school rather than a comprehensive public university.

Colorado School of Mines' net price varies significantly by family income, ranging from $19,231 for the lowest-income families to $33,931 for the highest earners. While financial aid provides meaningful support, particularly for lower-income students, the overall cost structure requires families to invest substantially more than typical public institutions.

Students should carefully evaluate whether the exceptional career outcomes justify the premium cost relative to other engineering programs. The institution's return on investment metrics suggest that despite higher upfront costs, graduates achieve earnings that support long-term financial success and debt repayment capacity.

Colorado School of Mines graduates demonstrate exceptional earning potential with steady growth over time. Median earnings rise from $82,950 six years after enrollment to $90,777 at eight years and $97,335 at ten years, representing 17.3% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes are based on substantial cohorts of over 1,000 graduates at each measurement point, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $27,988 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Colorado School of Mines at the 97.0th percentile for earnings uplift and among the highest we track.

This represents one of the strongest value-added performances in the nation. Low-income graduates earn $95,000, ranking in the top 5% nationally and demonstrating that the institution delivers exceptional outcomes regardless of student background.

Earnings span from $69,672 at the 25th percentile to $130,454 at the 75th percentile, reflecting variation across engineering disciplines but consistently strong outcomes. Approximately 26.6% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating the institution serves both workforce preparation and advanced education pathways.

Compared to peer institutions, Colorado School of Mines graduates earn $47,219 more annually, representing nearly double the peer median of $50,116.

Colorado School of Mines offers 12 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data, all focused on engineering, technology, and applied sciences. Engineering Physics ranks #1 nationally with 51 graduates earning $87,900 and achieving a perfect value score of 100.0.

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering also ranks #1 nationally, graduating 46 students with median earnings of $75,799. Metallurgical Engineering ranks #1 nationally as well, with 43 graduates earning $84,905.

Petroleum Engineering ranks #5 nationally and #1 in Colorado, producing 84 graduates with median earnings of $101,481. Computer Science ranks #62 nationally and #2 in Colorado, graduating 125 students with strong earnings of $110,684.

Mechanical Engineering represents the institution's largest program, graduating 313 students annually with median earnings of $83,162. The concentration of top-ranked programs reflects Colorado School of Mines' specialized focus and national leadership in engineering and applied sciences education.