South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs Colorado School of Mines

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) and Colorado School of Mines (CSM) stand out as premier institutions for students seeking a rigorous education in engineering, science, and technology. While sharing common strengths, these universities also possess distinct characteristics that cater to different preferences and aspirations. SDSMT boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. CSM, on the other hand, attracts a more diverse student body, offering a vibrant and inclusive campus community. Both institutions excel in preparing graduates for successful careers, with impressive graduation rates and strong industry connections. To help you make an informed decision, we present a comprehensive comparison of these two esteemed schools, delving into key aspects such as acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation outcomes. Explore the table below to discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Colorado School of Mines logo

Colorado School of Mines

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology logo

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Overview

Location Golden, Colorado Rapid City, South Dakota
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 70.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 56.9% 80.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 1310 - 1470 1155 - 1355
ACT range 29 - 33 24 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 53.0% 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 31.0% 84.0%
Total number of applicants 12,022 1,445
Total number of admissions given out 6,838 1,163
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,449 489
Yield rate 21.2% 42.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $34,245

Out of state: $55,545
In state: $29,330

Out of state: $33,750
Average net price $26,179 $19,257
Tuition
In state: $17,160

Out of state: $38,460
In state: $7,820

Out of state: $12,240
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,196

Meal plan: $6,520
Room/dormitory: $4,060

Meal plan: $4,080
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $10,778
83.0%
Average amount $5,895
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $5,292
52.0%
Average amount $4,907
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $24,651
13.0%
Average amount $12,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,487
Men 68.4% Women 31.6%
2,083
Men 76.4% Women 23.6%
Graduate students 1,700
Men 69.1% Women 30.9%
333
Men 76.3% Women 23.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 43.6% 63.0%
International students 8.8% 5.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,445 1,082
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Colorado Texas California Washington Illinois South Dakota Colorado Minnesota Nebraska Wyoming

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Physical Science
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Physical Science
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 83.2% 52.3%
Dropout rate 10.5% 35.2%
Transferred out 4.8% 7.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,022
  • Year 2: $77,213
  • Year 3: $99,390
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,458
  • Year 2: $78,971
  • Year 3: $97,622
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,719
  • Year 2: $77,966
  • Year 3: $94,221
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,308
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $91,467
Geological/Geophysical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,159
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $90,384
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,554
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $84,256
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,556
  • Year 2: $70,886
  • Year 3: $82,164
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,256
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $82,134
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,029
  • Year 2: $64,865
  • Year 3: $78,404
Engineering Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,721
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $77,926
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $75,822
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,634
  • Year 2: $67,789
  • Year 3: $71,638
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,408
  • Year 2: $60,523
  • Year 3: $64,746
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,674
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: N/A
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,157
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: N/A
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,319
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological/Geophysical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,327
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: N/A
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,985
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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