Colorado School of Mines: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Golden, Colorado · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2022-2023
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Colorado School of Mines is a public university in Golden, Colorado that admits about 58% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $28,690 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Chemical Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 81% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Colorado School of Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Colorado School of Mines admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 58%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1400 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $28,690 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Colorado School of Mines?
76% of enrolled students at Colorado School of Mines had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.85, according to its 2022-2023 Common Data Set.
What does Colorado School of Mines weight in admissions?
Colorado School of Mines reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2022-2023). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
SAT and ACT scores Colorado School of Mines typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1340 |
| 50th percentile | 1400 |
| 75th percentile | 1460 |
| % submitting SAT | 45% |
| 25th percentile | 30 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 24% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 57% |
| Top 25% of class | 87% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
| % submitting class rank | 43% |
How much does Colorado School of Mines actually cost?
Published tuition is $21,914 for in-state students and $45,824 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,531 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $28,690 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $17,520 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $39,600 |
| Room and board | $16,110 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $28,690 |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Colorado School of Mines
| Regular deadline | 5/1 |
| Notification date | Rolling beginning 10/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Colorado School of Mines?
These predict outcomes at Colorado School of Mines better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Colorado School of Mines
The most popular undergraduate programs at Colorado School of Mines, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Chemical Engineering. Across all programs, Colorado School of Mines confers roughly 1,037 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Mechanical Engineering program report a median income of about $93,871 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 304 | $93,871 |
| Computer Science | 202 | $136,319 |
| Chemical Engineering | 155 | $95,781 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 93 | $103,408 |
| Petroleum Engineering | 86 | $105,804 |
| Civil Engineering | 81 | $91,060 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | 72 | $84,373 |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 44 | $93,910 |
Is Colorado School of Mines safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Colorado School of Mines disclosed 16 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Colorado School of Mines?
About 41% of undergraduates at Colorado School of Mines live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 10% of men join a fraternity and 21% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for Colorado School of Mines
Common questions parents ask about Colorado School of Mines
What GPA do I need for Colorado School of Mines?
76% of enrolled students at Colorado School of Mines had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.85, according to its 2022-2023 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Colorado School of Mines typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.
How much does Colorado School of Mines actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Colorado School of Mines after grants and scholarships is $28,690 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $21,914 and $45,824 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Colorado School of Mines realistic for my child?
Colorado School of Mines admits 58% of applicants, so 670–750 SAT Math is target range and below 670 is a reach. Then check the $28,690 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado School of Mines?
Colorado School of Mines accepts about 58% of applicants out of roughly 10,886 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Colorado School of Mines test-optional?
Yes. Colorado School of Mines is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado School of Mines?
About 81% of students at Colorado School of Mines graduate within six years, and 65% finish in four years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Colorado School of Mines look for in applicants?
Colorado School of Mines rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Colorado School of Mines a public or private school, and where is it located?
Colorado School of Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado.
What are the most popular majors at Colorado School of Mines?
The largest undergraduate majors at Colorado School of Mines by annual graduates are Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Chemical Engineering. The school awards about 1,037 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Colorado School of Mines safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Colorado School of Mines reported 16 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Colorado School of Mines?
At Colorado School of Mines, 41% of undergraduates live on campus, 10% of men are in fraternities, 21% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2022-2023 Common Data Set submitted by Colorado School of Mines, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers