Mining & Mineral Engineeringat University of Arizona
Graduates earn $86,924/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Mining & Mineral Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $868K; scenarios range from $751K to $907K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arizona
This highly specialized program positions you uniquely within a vital global industry. Your earning potential reflects the concentrated demand for engineers who can navigate the complex challenges of mineral extraction, processing, and sustainability. Arizona's deep roots in copper and other mining operations mean strong regional employers are often actively recruiting directly from campus, providing robust internship opportunities that frequently convert into full-time roles with competitive compensation. While technology is transforming the sector, your core engineering skills in design, safety, and project management remain indispensable, especially as the industry prioritizes efficiency and environmental stewardship. To truly capitalize on this program's advantages, immerse yourself in industry internships and professional organizations early on; these connections are paramount in a field with so few dedicated programs.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Arizona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Mining & Mineral Engineering
How University of Arizona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arizona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arizona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mining & Mineral Engineering at University of Arizona
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mining & Mineral Engineering at University of Arizona?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mining & Mineral Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Mining & 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.