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Mining and Mineral Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $83,309/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 5 Mining and Mineral Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Mining and Mineral Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,097K $1,040K $879K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.3x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 5.9x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$84,744
Out-of-state: $177,504 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,960
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$121,247
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $83,309/yr, Mining and Mineral Engineering graduates from Colorado School of Mines land near the $84,287 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Mining and Mineral Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Mining and Mineral Engineering's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.

This program is one of 5 schools offering Mining and Mineral Engineering in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $83,309 to $121,247 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines accepts 60% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 5,801 students in Golden, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado School of Mines →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers $101,020/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 5 schools offering Mining and Mineral Engineering →

Mining and Mineral Engineering at Other Schools

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($90,514) University of Arizona ($86,924) West Virginia University ($85,897) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($74,793)

Other Majors at Colorado School of Mines

Computer Science ($86,268) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,815) Metallurgical Engineering ($78,984) Petroleum Engineering ($77,400) Mechanical Engineering ($74,145) Engineering Physics ($72,858) Civil Engineering ($70,301) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($69,102)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mining and Mineral Engineering at Colorado School of Mines?
This program scores 70/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Mining and Mineral Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Mining and Mineral Engineering careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $879,392 in decade earnings vs $1,096,819 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →