Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO 80401
About Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public research university in Golden, Colorado, serving roughly 6,155 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 60.69% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $97,335 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Colorado School of Mines charges about 4.0× the national public median tuition ($21,914).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 2.2×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 81.71%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $97,335.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Colorado School of Mines is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 748% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of Mines | $21,914 | $28,690 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Colorado (state median) | $9,958 | $12,045 | 43 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Colorado School of Mines really?
Key findings
- Colorado School of Mines charges about 4.0× the national public median tuition ($21,914).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 2.2×.
Colorado School of Mines tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $21,914
Finding Colorado School of Mines charges about 4.0× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $21,914. That is about 4.0× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Colorado median ($9,958), sticker tuition is about 2.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 1.8×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Colorado School of Mines versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Colorado School of Mines versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Colorado School of Mines is $28,690.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $28,690 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $16,645 above the Colorado median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $9,990 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Colorado School of Mines, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Colorado School of Mines: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Colorado School of Mines—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$21,914
Out-of-state tuition
$45,824
Avg. net price
$28,690
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $16,849 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,162 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,192 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $28,183 |
| $110,001+ | $35,112 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $87,656. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Colorado School of Mines is known for
Top program completions
- Mechanical Engineering378
- Computer Science352
- Chemical Engineering150
- Civil Engineering, General105
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering101
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 25% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1412
- Midpoint ACT: 31
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Colorado School of Mines a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Colorado School of Mines is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Colorado School of Mines.
Campus
Location
Golden, CO
City / state
- ZIP
- 80401
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 53% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
6,155
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 6,401
- Graduate
- 1,849
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 13.57%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Colorado School of Mines.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Colorado School of Mines was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Colorado School of Mines in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $16,485 | $32,415 | $24,980 |
| 2014 | $16,918 | $33,598 | $25,777 |
| 2015 | $17,353 | $34,828 | $24,929 |
| 2016 | $17,842 | $36,172 | $24,877 |
| 2017 | $18,386 | $37,436 | $25,710 |
| 2018 | $18,964 | $38,584 | $25,781 |
| 2019 | $19,062 | $39,762 | $26,750 |
| 2020 | $19,100 | $39,800 | $27,114 |
| 2021 | $19,538 | $40,838 | $25,211 |
| 2022 | $20,040 | $42,120 | $27,978 |
| 2023 | $21,186 | $44,376 | $29,240 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1412 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 31 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.80
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Colorado School of Mines reported total enrollment of about 6,155 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 68% male and 32% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (67.5%), Hispanic or Latino (14.2%), and Asian (6.4%). About 13.57% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 15.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Colorado School of Mines in 2024 is 6,155 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,401 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,849 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
67.03% 100% Completion Time
81.71% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 67.03% of students graduating from Colorado School of Mines completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Mechanical Engineering: 77% male / 23% female
- Computer Science: 80% male / 20% female
- Chemical Engineering: 59% male / 41% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Colorado School of Mines graduates earn a median of $97,335 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Colorado School of Mines.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $97,335. Median federal loan debt: $23,000. Average net price used in cost models: $28,690.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Colorado School of Mines graduates report median earnings of $97,335 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Colorado School of Mines.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (40 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Colorado School of Mines.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Colorado School of Mines graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Colorado School of Mines—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$351.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Colorado median 22× the median ($15.8M)
- Rocky Mountains median 18× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 13× the median ($26.4M)
- Colorado median 8.5× the median ($5,882)
- Rocky Mountains median 4.9× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median 4.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 72.8%
- Colorado median 4.9 pp above median (67.9%)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.5 pp below median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 14.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $14,000
- Colorado median 1.9× the median ($7,318)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.9× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 1.8× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $20,431
- Colorado median 3.0× the median ($6,731)
- Rocky Mountains median 3.0× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 2.8× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Colorado School of Mines at a glance
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public institution in Golden, CO, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Mechanical EngineeringComputer ScienceChemical Engineering
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian67.5%Hispanic or Latino14.2%Asian6.4%
Schools near Colorado School of Mines
Other campuses in Golden, CO when available, plus nearby institutions in Colorado.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within Colorado, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Colorado School of Mines located?
Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, CO.
What is Colorado School of Mines's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Colorado School of Mines is 60.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 9,821 applicants and 5,864 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Colorado School of Mines's tuition?
Colorado School of Mines tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $21,914 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $28,690 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Colorado School of Mines cost?
Reported tuition is $21,914 and average net price is $28,690 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,531 annually.
What explains Colorado School of Mines's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($28,690), completion (81.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($97,335). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Colorado School of Mines?
Colorado School of Mines reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,401 students, White (67.5%), Hispanic or Latino (14.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Colorado School of Mines?
About 15.4% of students at Colorado School of Mines are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Colorado School of Mines?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Colorado School of Mines reports midpoint SAT about 1412 and midpoint ACT about 31.
What do graduates of Colorado School of Mines earn?
Median earnings are $82,950 six years after entry and $97,335 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado School of Mines?
The 150%-time completion rate is 81.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Colorado School of Mines students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,000.
Is Colorado School of Mines public or private?
Colorado School of Mines is a public institution located in Golden, CO.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.