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Mining and Mineral Engineering at West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $85,897/yr (2% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,000 openings/yr)

ROI 20.3x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 of 5 Mining and Mineral Engineering programs Top 25%

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	$815K	$785K	$688K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.1x	20.3x	17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.4x	7.2x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,592

Out-of-state: $109,440 (7.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,988

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,903

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$92,289

7% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

West Virginia University's Mining and Mineral Engineering program produces graduates earning $85,897/yr — within striking distance of the $84,287 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.3x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,903 in median debt clears quickly against $85,897 in annual earnings.

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 $92,289 are relatively flat compared to the $85,897 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About West Virginia University

A 86% acceptance rate means West Virginia University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 17,705 in Morgantown, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University →

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 West Virginia University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mining and Mineral Engineering at West Virginia University?

This program scores 73/100 — 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 $688,340 in decade earnings vs $814,856 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes West Virginia University's Mining and Mineral Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #1 of 5 programs nationally, West Virginia University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →