Mining and Mineral Engineering at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $86,924/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 5 Mining and Mineral Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $907K $868K $751K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.6x 15.9x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.3x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,504
Out-of-state: $164,380 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,840
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
1.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,825
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $86,924/yr, roughly in line with the $84,287 national median for Mining and Mineral Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.9x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $86,924 far exceeding the $11,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

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

Five-year earnings of $102,825 are relatively flat compared to the $86,924 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Arizona

University of Arizona accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 40,769 in Tucson, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arizona →

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

Mining and Mineral Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mining and Mineral Engineering at University of Arizona?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mining and Mineral Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $750,527 in decade earnings vs $906,638 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →