Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Colorado School of Mines at a Glance
The Colorado School of Mines (Mines) is a public research university in Golden, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1874, the school offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, and mathematics, with a focus on energy and the environment. While Mines does offer undergraduate minor programs in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, it only offers degree programs in STEM fields, with the exception of economics. In the fall 2025 semester, the school enrolled 8,247 stu…
1874
152 years old
$463M
$463.3 million (2025)
8,247
6,371 undergrad · 1,876 grad
603
373 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Colorado School of Mines
Official admissions pageFee waiver
Is Colorado School of Mines Worth It?
Colorado School of Mines delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $28,690/year, it's priced 41% above average, while graduates go on to earn $97,335 — 81% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 81% graduation rate means roughly 19% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Colorado School of Mines compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #4 of 7 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Florida-Online | 100 | $4,815 | $71,588 |
| #2 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | 93 | $16,504 | $84,276 |
| #3 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | 81 | $16,298 | $82,957 |
| #4 | Colorado School of Mines | 69 | $28,690 | $97,335 |
| #5 | Rutgers University-Newark | 62 | $19,703 | $74,479 |
| #6 | University of Arkansas Grantham | 60 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Colorado School of Mines's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Colorado School of Mines
The highest-earning program at Colorado School of Mines is Computer Science at $73,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at $44,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Colorado School of Mines earns $73,100, while a Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduate earns $44,700. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $22,180 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $28,690/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $73,100 | $73,100 | $22,180 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $71,400 | $71,400 | $22,125 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $69,400 | $69,400 | $26,451 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $68,800 | $68,800 | $27,000 |
| Metallurgical Engineering | $66,000 | $66,000 | $18,760 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $65,900 | $65,900 | $27,000 |
| Engineering Physics | $60,600 | $60,600 | $23,059 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,400 | $60,400 | $19,293 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $59,900 | $59,900 | $26,000 |
| Engineering, General | $59,500 | $59,500 | N/A |
| Chemical Engineering | $59,400 | $59,400 | $26,000 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | $53,700 | $53,700 | $22,500 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $44,700 | $44,700 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in CO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Golden, CO
- Student Body
- 6,155 students
- Admission Rate
- 61%
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $28,690
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $97,335
- Median Student Debt
- $23,000