10-yr median earnings
$97,335
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Golden, Colorado
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public institution in Golden, Colorado. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $28,690
- Avg net price / yr
- $97,335
- 10-yr median earnings
- 80.9%
- 150%-time completion
- 60.7%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Colorado School of Mines pairs top-1% former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 1%
- former-student earnings, US
- 60.7%
- acceptance rate
- 80.9%
- 150%-time completion
- +17%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Suburb: Large
Carnegie: R1
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Colorado School of Mines profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
B-
College Value Score
67/100
Colorado School of Mines
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A+
$97,335
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$28,690
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A
80.9%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$23,000
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
95.9%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A
92.8%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$28,690
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
80.9%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 80.9%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Colorado School of Mines vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Colorado School of Mines ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Colorado School of Mines: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$97,335 Top 1% higher than 99% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Colorado School of Mines | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $97,335 | #58 of 5103 | 99th |
| Average net price | $28,690 | #4351 of 5020 | 13th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 80.9% | #656 of 4858 | 86th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,155 | #608 of 5462 | 89th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
6,155
Undergraduate enrollment
60.7%
Acceptance rate
1,412
SAT average
80.9%
150%-time completion
$97,335
10-yr median earnings
92.8%
First-year retention
How Colorado School of Mines ranks in Colorado
State rank among 69 reporting Colorado colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Colorado School of Mines | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $97,335 | #1 of 69 | 99th |
| Average net price | $28,690 | #57 of 69 | 17th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 80.9% | #9 of 65 | 86th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,155 | #12 of 75 | 84th |
Highest former-student earnings in Colorado
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado School of MinesThis school | $97,335 | $28,690 |
| 2 | Denver College of Nursing | $81,809 | - |
| 3 | Colorado State University Global | $76,813 | $16,510 |
| 4 | Regis University | $72,105 | $18,397 |
| 5 | University of Denver | $71,155 | $36,131 |
| 6 | University of Colorado Boulder | $69,738 | $25,346 |
| 7 | Colorado College | $65,222 | $33,375 |
| 8 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $64,270 | $11,900 |
| 9 | Galen Health Institutes-Aurora | $61,480 | - |
| 10 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $60,543 | $21,279 |
| 11 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | $59,093 | $30,065 |
| 12 | Colorado State University Pueblo | $55,563 | $10,051 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 60.7% |
| SAT Average | 1,412 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 670 – 750 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 650 – 730 |
| ACT Average | 31 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 29 – 33 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Colorado School of Mines
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$16,849 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$18,162 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$22,192 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$35,112 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Colorado School of Mines - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $21,914 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $45,824 |
| Average Net Price | $28,690 |
13.6%
Pell Grant Rate
31.7%
Federal Loan Rate
$23,000
Median Debt
$244/mo
Monthly Payment
2013–2023: what Colorado School of Mines costs has stayed close to flat
Average net price moved +17.1% over 10 years, from $24,980 to $29,240 in nominal dollars. The median college measured over the same span moved +14.6%.
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $24,9802023 · $29,240
Over the same years, enrollment went +38.2% (4,197 → 5,801 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
28.4%
Female
15.4%
First Generation
Outcomes
92.8%
Retention Rate
$82,950
Median Earnings (6yr)
89.5%
Earning Over $25K
95.9%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 80.9% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 92.8% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $82,950 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $97,335 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 89.5% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 95.9% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $244/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 16 | 1,182 | $100,540 | $127,217 | $23,839 |
| Master's | 8 | 286 | $115,198 | $147,702 | $24,717 |
Top programs at Colorado School of Mines by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$147,702 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$127,217 median earnings
- Engineering-Related Fields
Engineering-Related Fields
$123,855 median earnings
- Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
$116,691 median earnings
- Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
$115,085 median earnings
- Mining and Mineral Enginee…
Mining and Mineral Engineering
$109,695 median earnings
- Geological and Earth Scien…
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
$109,407 median earnings
- Electrical, Electronics, a…
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
$106,012 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Master's | 48 | $147,702 | $20,500 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 202 | $127,217 | $22,500 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Master's | 39 | $123,855 | $23,150 |
| Petroleum Engineering | Bachelor's | 86 | $116,691 | $26,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's | 47 | $115,085 | $30,500 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | Bachelor's | 20 | $109,695 | - |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | Master's | 36 | $109,407 | - |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's | 93 | $106,012 | $21,500 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | Master's | 29 | $102,007 | - |
| Applied Mathematics | Bachelor's | 40 | $98,190 | $21,500 |
| Engineering Physics | Bachelor's | 40 | $97,497 | $21,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's | 304 | $97,087 | $23,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's | 0 | $95,142 | $23,370 |
| Metallurgical Engineering | Bachelor's | 44 | $94,902 | $25,745 |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's | 155 | $94,598 | $26,798 |
Nearby Schools
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Similar 2013–2023 Net-Price Trend
Same-sector institutions with the same direction and nearest fitted annual change; only series with R² of at least 0.40 qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado School of Mines? ▼
Colorado School of Mines is a public institution in Golden, Colorado. The acceptance rate is 60.7%. The average SAT score is 1,412. Undergraduate enrollment is 6,155 students.
How much do Colorado School of Mines former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Colorado School of Mines who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $97,335 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $82,950.
How much does Colorado School of Mines cost? ▼
The average net price at Colorado School of Mines is $28,690. In-state tuition is $21,914 and out-of-state tuition is $45,824. Median student debt at graduation is $23,000.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado School of Mines? ▼
Colorado School of Mines has a 80.9% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 92.8%.
Is Colorado School of Mines worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Colorado School of Mines is $23,000, while former students earn a median of $97,335 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 24% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 95.9% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $244.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Colorado School of Mines
- Compare Colorado School of Mines against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Colorado side by side.Browse Colorado
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.