Colorado School of Mines
A small public STEM university in Golden where every student takes calculus through differential equations.
- Acceptance rate
- 61%
- Fall 2024 entering class (IPEDS via College Navigator; Mines has published no Common Data Set since 2022-23); applying now for fall 2027
- Students
- 8,246
- Student–faculty
- 18:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $47,996
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1874
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines opened in 1873 under the Episcopal Church and was taken over by the Colorado Territory in 1874; it has been a state institution since Colorado became a state in 1876. Today it is a public R1 research university in Golden, west of Denver, with 8,246 undergraduate and graduate students in fall 2025.
Mines offers degrees only in science, engineering, mathematics and economics, organised in 17 departments including petroleum, mining, metallurgical and materials, geological and chemical and biological engineering, geophysics, computer science and mechanical engineering. The common core is intensive: every undergraduate takes Calculus I, II and III and Differential Equations and must complete at least one field session of hands-on work in their discipline. Honors options include the Thorson and Grandey first-year programs and the McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs.
About 13,000 students apply each year for roughly 1,550 first-year seats, and 61% of 11,436 applicants were admitted for fall 2024; Colorado residents who meet set grade and course benchmarks can win guaranteed admission. Mines suits students who already love math and physics, want a small, intense STEM school with strong industry recruiting, and like the outdoors.
Nil sine numine
“Nothing without God's will” — university motto
Why students choose Mines
Graduates are in demand: 1,250+ employers actively recruit at Mines, and College Scorecard reports median earnings of $97,335 ten years after entry.
Colorado residents who apply by November 1 with a 3.8 unweighted GPA (or 3.6 plus SAT 1420/ACT 32) and the required math and science get the Mines Golden Guarantee: admission plus at least $2,000 a year.
Hands-on learning is built in: field sessions for every major, 35,000+ square feet of makerspaces and the Edgar Experimental Mine in Idaho Springs.
Mines is ranked No. 1 in the world for mineral and mining engineering in the QS subject rankings 2026, and petroleum engineering is one of its flagship programs.
Admissions
Fall 2024 entering class (IPEDS via College Navigator; Mines has published no Common Data Set since 2022-23); applying now for fall 2027
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
For fall 2024, IPEDS reports 11,436 first-year applicants, 61% admitted and 23% of admits enrolling; IPEDS gives a percentage, not an admitted count. Mines says 13,000+ students apply each year for about 1,550 first-year seats (its admissions page says around 12,000). Its latest published Common Data Set is for 2022-23, so these figures come from IPEDS rather than a CDS.
Typical entry requirements
| Required and recommended high school courses | 4 years of college-prep or advanced math with trigonometry or pre-calculus at minimum; 3 units of lab science including physics or chemistry (preferably both); AP, IB, A-level or dual-enrollment STEM courses encouraged |
|---|---|
| Mines Golden Guarantee (Colorado residents at Colorado high schools) | 3.8+ unweighted GPA, or 3.6+ with SAT 1420 or ACT 32; no grade below B- in math or science; pre-calculus or trig; three years of lab science; apply by November 1 |
| International applicants | Transcripts plus a credential evaluation for schooling outside the US; SAT/ACT not required |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Required of non-native speakers who enroll: TOEFL iBT 79 with section minimums (Reading 20, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 17) for tests before 20 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new scale; IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0; Duolingo 105 with no subscore below 100. Section scores can be superscored. |
Deadlines
- Early Action (priority deadline) Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Admission and merit scholarship decision by December 15; unofficial transcripts accepted. Required for the Mines Golden Guarantee. Some applicants are moved to Regular Decision and must submit an interest form by February 15.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 15, 2027
Decisions by February 15; official transcript required. Applications after January 15 are reviewed on a space-available basis.
Mines publishes November 1 (priority) and January 15 (regular) as recurring dates without a year; its first-year page confirms applications opened August 1 for fall 2027 admission, so these are the fall 2027 deadlines. Admission is never binding: admitted students have until May 1 to decide.
How to apply
Mines' Golden Application or the Common App (same requirements and review); official or unofficial transcript; two optional but strongly encouraged short responses (what element on the periodic table best represents you, and why you want to be an Oredigger); letters of recommendation optional; SAT/ACT optional; $60 fee ($75 for international students).
What admissions looks for
- Rigor and trends in your coursework from grades 9-11, especially STEM classes and any engineering or computer science electives.
- Strong math and science preparation: four years of math through at least pre-calculus, and lab sciences including physics or chemistry.
- Personal context and fit shown in the two short responses, activities, jobs and family responsibilities, and awards.
- Engagement with Mines: the admissions team says it appreciates applicants who contact counselors or attend events.
Tips for applying to Mines
- 1 Apply by November 1: you get a decision and merit scholarship offer by December 15, and Colorado students need the priority deadline for the Golden Guarantee.
- 2 Answer both short responses even though they are optional; Mines recommends it for best consideration.
- 3 Take calculus in high school if you can: about 80% of admitted students complete Calculus I or higher.
- 4 Only send test scores if they strengthen your file; without them, merit aid is judged on unweighted GPA.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Colorado School of Mines
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
All applicants are considered for merit scholarships through the admission review (Golden Guarantee students get at least $2,000 a year). Need-based aid requires the FAFSA, and Financial Aid begins reviewing the General Scholarship Application on March 1, with first-round awards around mid-April. International students must document funding only after they commit.
- $46,480 Colorado residents; $71,470 non-residents
- Cost of attendance 2026-27, on campus
- At least $2,000 per year
- Mines Golden Guarantee merit award (Colorado)
- $97,335
- Median earnings 10 years after entry (College Scorecard)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters, plus required summer field sessions
Mining Engineering
Mines ranks No. 1 worldwide for mineral and mining engineering (QS 2026), and students train in the school-owned Edgar Experimental Mine.
Petroleum Engineering
Ranked third in the US by US News among graduate petroleum engineering programs in 2024, and the degree of former Transocean CEO Steven Newman.
Geophysics
Alumni include Booker Prize winner George Saunders and In Search of Excellence co-author Robert Waterman.
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
One of Mines' 17 departments, rooted in its founding focus on mining and mineral processing.
Computer Science
Offered within an all-STEM university where every student completes Calculus I-III and Differential Equations, plus field session experience.
Research
- R1 research university with $136 million in total research awards in FY25.
- The Edgar Experimental Mine in Idaho Springs, owned since 1921, is a working teaching mine used by mining, electrical, biological and civil engineering students.
- Home to the Payne Institute for Public Policy and a Shared Instrumentation Facility open to researchers.
Schools & faculties
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Computer Science
- Department of Electrical Engineering
- Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
- Department of Geophysics
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
- Department of Mining Engineering
- Department of Petroleum Engineering
- Department of Physics
In the latest year, 666 employers posted 3,061 jobs and internships for Mines students, and 1,250+ employers actively recruited on campus. College Scorecard median earnings 10 years after entry: $97,335.
Student life
Mines is small and tight-knit, with 200+ student organizations and 18 varsity teams competing in NCAA Division II, where Mines ranks among the top 10 programs in the Directors' Cup. Traditions run deep: first-years carry a ten-pound rock up Mount Zion in the M Climb during orientation week, and each spring classes are cancelled for E-Days, which starts with an ore cart pull. The mascot, Blaster the Burro, is a real racing burro. Clear Creek runs along the edge of campus.
- M Climb: first-years carry a ten-pound rock up Mount Zion during orientation.
- E-Days (Engineering Days), held every spring since 1934.
- 18 intercollegiate varsity teams in NCAA Division II.
- 200+ student-led organizations and 35,000+ square feet of makerspaces.
Housing. On-campus students are budgeted $18,900 for a double room and average meal plan in 2026-27.
Location
Golden is a small city west of Denver, founded in 1859 as Golden City, a supply centre for miners and settlers. The campus lies southwest of downtown Golden, bordered by U.S. Route 6 and Clear Creek, with Denver nearby. Living costs are relatively high: Mines budgets $17,658 a year for off-campus housing and food.
Nearest airport: Denver International Airport (DEN)
Notable alumni
- GS George SaundersBooker Prize-winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo; BS in geophysical engineering, 1981
- RH Robert H. Waterman Jr.Co-author of In Search of Excellence; bachelor's in geophysics, 1958
- SL Steven L. NewmanFormer president and CEO of Transocean; BS in petroleum engineering, 1989
- GR George R. BrownCo-leader of Brown & Root, the Houston engineering and construction firm; graduated 1922
- JH James H. DickinsonUS Army general and commander of US Space Command; MS in operations research
- PY Purnomo YusgiantoroIndonesian Minister of Defense; MSc and PhD in mineral economics from Mines
- SC Shane CarwinFormer UFC interim heavyweight champion; BS in mechanical engineering
Frequently asked questions
Is Colorado School of Mines test-optional?
Yes. Mines gives equal consideration for admission and merit scholarships with or without SAT or ACT scores. Among submitters, competitive applicants average a 1372 SAT or 31 ACT.
What is Colorado School of Mines' acceptance rate?
IPEDS reports that 61% of 11,436 first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2024. Mines says about 13,000 students now apply each year for around 1,550 first-year seats.
Does Mines have Early Action?
Yes. Apply by November 1 and choose Early Action for a non-binding admission and merit scholarship decision by December 15. The regular deadline is January 15, with decisions by February 15.
What GPA do you need for Mines?
Competitive applicants average a 3.84 unweighted GPA. Colorado students with a 3.8 unweighted GPA (or 3.6 plus SAT 1420/ACT 32) and the required math and science are guaranteed admission if they apply by November 1.
How much does Colorado School of Mines cost?
For 2026-27, the on-campus cost of attendance is $46,480 for Colorado residents and $71,470 for non-residents, including $18,900 for housing and food.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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