Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO · Public · 6,155 undergrads
- Admit rate: 60.7% (9,821 applicants)
- SAT middle 50%: 1320–1480 (ACT 29–33)
- Undergraduates: 6,155 (2.5% international)
- Average net price: $28,690 (per year after aid)
- Graduation rate: 82% (within 6 years)
Deadlines
- Priority: Nov. 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: Jan. 15, 2027
Essays
Short response 1
What element on the periodic table best represents you and why?
Short response 2
Why do you want to be an Oredigger? You can share what you want to study, your future involvement and activities, or anything else about the Mines experience that excites you.
Editor's notes
- Apply by Nov. 1 if Mines is near the top of your list. The priority round is nonbinding, you hear by Dec. 15, and for Colorado students it's the only way into the Golden Guarantee.
- Your math and science record is the application. Mines says it looks closely at STEM rigor and trends, and 80% of admitted students have taken calculus. With tests optional and no interview, the two short responses are the only place you get to sound like a person, so write them.
Sources
- Colorado School of Mines Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year Admission Requirements (dates, materials, FAQ)
- Colorado School of Mines Undergraduate Admissions, Admission Considerations (short responses, genAI guidance)
- Colorado School of Mines Undergraduate Admissions, Apply to Mines
- Colorado School of Mines Institutional Research, Common Data Set index
- Common App, 2026-27 first-year requirements grid
