Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado

A public STEM focused university

Colorado School of Mines is a public university that FEELS like a private university, with a student body of about 8,000 students with focused academics in engineering and applied sciences. A Bachelor of Science in Business Engineering and Management Science is offered. The Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences offers minors in Culture, Creativity & Communication, Environment and Sustainability Studies, Global Politics and Society, Music, Audio Engineering, and Recording Arts, and an Individualized Undergraduate minor, so students do have options. Students declare their major at the end of sophomore year after completing core classes, exploring interests and attending a “Major Fair.” Students experience a hands-on curriculum with undergraduate research a cornerstone of freshman year.

Mines ranks high, among the top 3, in Return on Investment according to Georgetown University. Career Days host hundreds of companies from tech, environmental, engineering and defense sectors. Alumni are welcome to return for Career Day to explore career prospects, but often are on the other side of the table recruiting for their company. Orediggers are said to be career ready.

Traditions are one of the ways Mines feels like a private university. The large white M at the top of MT Zion was first built in 1908. The M is the purpose of the “M Climb tradition” at Mines. Freshmen bring a rock from home, paint it white and hike up Lookout Mountain Road to place their rock on the M. Seniors return and try to locate their rock or another, and take it with as a momento of their Oredigger days. Many students have faculty and friends sign their rock. Another tradition are E-Days, a student run weekend of engineering challenges. The cardboard boat race down Clear Creek in Golden, trebuchet competitions, ore cart pulling, concerts and amazing fireworks are all part of this traditional weekend.