 | |
Former name | Territorial School of Mines (1874–1876) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Nil sine numine (Latin) |
Motto in English | "Nothing without God's will." |
| Type | Publicresearch university |
| Established | February 9, 1874; 151 years ago (1874-02-09)[1] |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
| Endowment | $285.6 million (2020)[2] |
| President | Paul C. Johnson |
| Provost | Stefanie Tompkins |
Academic staff | 603[3] |
| Students | 8,247 (fall 2025)[4] |
| Undergraduates | 6,371 (fall 2025)[4] |
| Postgraduates | 1,876 (fall 2025)[4] |
| Location | ,, United States 39°45′4″N105°13′21″W / 39.75111°N 105.22250°W /39.75111; -105.22250 |
| Campus | Large Suburb, 373 acres (1.51 km2)[5] |
| Newspaper | The Oredigger |
| Colors | Blue and silver[6] |
| Nickname | Orediggers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II –Rocky Mountain |
| Mascot | Marvin the Miner Blaster the Burro[7] |
| Website | mines.edu |
.svg) | |
 | |
TheColorado School of Mines (Mines) is apublicresearch university inGolden, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1874, the school offers bothundergraduate andgraduate degrees in engineering, science, and mathematics, with a focus on energy and the environment. While Mines does offerundergraduate minor programs in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, it only offers degree programs inSTEM fields, with the exception ofeconomics. In the fall 2025 semester, the school enrolled 8,247 students, including 6,371 undergraduate and 1,876 graduate students.[4] It isclassified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[8]
Golden, Colorado, established in 1859 as Golden City, served as a supply center for miners and settlers in the area. In 1866, BishopGeorge M. Randall ofMassachusetts arrived in the territory and, seeing a need for higher education facilities in the area, began planning for a university which would include a school of mines. In 1870, he opened theJarvis Hall Collegiate School in the central building of theColorado University Schools campus just south of the town of Golden, accompanied it withMatthews Hall divinity school in 1872, and in 1873 the School of Mines opened under the auspices of theEpiscopal Church. In 1874 the School of Mines, supported by the territorial government since efforts began in 1870, was acquired by the territory and has been a state institution since 1876 when Colorado attained statehood. Tuition was originally free to residents of Colorado.
In 1878, Jarvis Hall's main building and Matthews Hall were both destroyed by fires in the span of two days. The School of Mines building was the only structure of the complex left standing. Following the fires, the School of Mines enrollment grew, consisting of prospectors and mine owners. A school library was established with $250, and a gymnasium was built to support the growing student body. The school's fight song, "The Mining Engineer", the first two verses of which are still sung today, was established on campus by 1885.[9]
Following the 1880s, the School of Mines transitioned to become a 4-year university, removing itsassaying certificate program. Around this time, silver and blue began to be seen as the official school colors. In 1894, Engineering Hall was completed. As the oldest building on campus, Engineering Hall originally housed the physics and drafting departments, but now houses the Division ofEconomics andBusiness.[10] The following year, the CSM Alumni Association was founded with members wearing the first instance of the school'sReuleaux triangle symbol. In 1898, Florence Caldwell became the first female graduate of the School of Mines, earning a Civil Engineering Degree.[11]
At the turn of the century, the School of Mines officially changed its name to the Colorado School of Mines. This marked the start of a long period of investment into Mines. In 1905,Simon Guggenheim donated $80,000 for the construction of Guggenheim Hall, which serves as the school's administration building.[12] On nearbyMount Zion, student Herbert Everest designed a large M made out of rocks for his senior thesis, which was constructed by 20 faculty and 250 students.[13] Also on Mt. Zion, the first experimental mine owned by the Colorado School of Mines was opened. Known as the School Tunnel, it served to train mining engineers until 1921, when the Edgar Mine was purchased and the original School Tunnel was abandoned.[14]
In 1919, tensions between the Colorado School of Mines and theUniversity of Denver resulted in Colorado GovernorOliver Shoup threatening intervention after students from Mines held DU students and local news reporter Bill Bliss hostage in Golden.[15]
DuringWorld War II, Mines was one of 227 universities that participated in theArmy Specialized Training Program by the War Department.[16] The program focused on training students in practical engineering skills for military service.
In August 2007, a new student recreation center was completed. In 2008, the school finished expanding its main computer center, the Center for Technology and Learning Media (CTLM). In May 2008 the school completed construction and installation of a new supercomputer nicknamed "Ra"[17] in the CTLM managed by the Golden Energy Computing Organization (GECO), a partnership among the Colorado School of Mines, theNational Renewable Energy Laboratory, theNational Center for Atmospheric Research and theNational Science Foundation. In 2014,CoorsTek granted a $27 million investment to the university, leading to the 2017 opening of the CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering, a multi-disciplinary building on campus dedicated to both academic and research activities.[18]
Since 1964, the Colorado School of Mines has hosted the annualoil shale symposium, one of the most important international oil shale conferences. Although the series of symposia stopped after 1992, the tradition was restored in 2006.[19]
Colorado School of Mines is located to the southwest of Golden's downtown, bordered byU.S. Route 6 andClear Creek. The campus spans 373 acres (1.51 km2),[5] and includes over a dozen academic and research buildings, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, two student centers, a library, eight residential halls, and administration buildings. Additionally, the campus hosts a research building for theUnited States Geological Survey,[20] housing theNational Earthquake Information Center.
Colorado School of Mines also operates the free admissionMines Museum of Earth Science, which displays rock and mineral specimens collected from Colorado's numerous mining districts, as well as around the world. Notable objects in the collection include one of the"Goodwill" Apollo 17 lunar samples and theMiss Colorado crown.[21][22]
The Labriola Innovation District, composed of McNeil Hall, xWorks, and the Labriola Innovation Hub (InnoHub), was opened in early 2024. Named after Frank and Mary Labriola, the InnoHub's 37,000 square feet and supporting buildings host thecapstone design program,student design competition teams, and students'entrepreneurial and personal endeavors.[23] The InnoHub also consists of amachine shop, woodworking shop, composite workshop, electronics lab, tool rental center,additive manufacturing lab, and open-build space for student use.
McNeil Hall contains classrooms dedicated to cornerstone and capstone design classes, as well as a large parking structure. The Mines Police Department, Lock Smith,Environmental Health and Safety, and Parking Services are also based on the first floor.
The Beck Venture Center provides business mentorship and support for students and faculty to build businesses. Multipleventure capitalists,angel investors, and engineering consultants maintain offices in the Venture Center to support the campus business ecosystem.[24] Mines, through the Beck Venture Center, is one of ten members of the western division of the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps Program, which provides students and faculty with grants to pursue their inventions.[25]
The Edgar Experimental Mine is the primary educationalmine owned by Mines inIdaho Springs. The mine was originally a silver and gold mine founded in 1870 by the Big Five Mining Company. It was acquired by Mines in 1921 after Big Five declaredbankruptcy.[14] Edgar Mine is primarily used to train mining engineers, although it is also used by various state and federal agencies to develop a wide range of products and techniques,[26] including the U.S. Army's tunnel detection program, which built one of the mine's two portals.
The mine features a fully operationalmine railway, internet system, and classroom.[27] In addition to being used by mining engineers, it is also used by electrical, biological, and civil engineering students for various projects.Edgar Mine Classroom | Rock Powered Life | University of Colorado Boulder The property also contains an outdoor explosives lab used by researchers andeducational creators, like theSlow-Mo-Guys.[28]
In 2023, theFreePort-McMoRan Foundation gave $1 million to modernize Edgar Mine.[29]
Clear Creek Athletics Complex hosts facilities for Mine's varsity sports teams north of campus.[30] Facilities include the Joe Coors Jr. Softball Field, Jim Darden [Baseball] Field, Stermole Track & Field Complex, Stermole Soccer Stadium, and Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium.
Marv Kay Stadium was built in 2015 on the site of the historical Campell Field. Since 2015, additions have raised the capacity of the stadium, adding a permanentbeer garden, standing room, and kids' zone in the west endzone. Marv Kay stadium also contains practice facilities for teams at the Clear Creek Athletic Complex, including an varsity weight room, sports medicine offices, hydrotherapy center, equipment rooms, event center, and an auditorium.
Mines began the world's first graduate program in space resources in the fall semester of 2018, offering both master's and PhD degrees.[31]
The Thorson First-Year Honors program replaces two freshman-level classes with Thorson-specific classes that emphasize the intersections of STEM and the humanities.[32] Students apply to the Thorson Honors program before beginning their freshman year at Mines. Each cohort of Thorson Scholars is split into seminar sessions led by interdisciplinary faculty teams that dive intocritical thinking, design, communication, and ethical problem solving. Thorson Honors students who are also approved for the Mines Study Abroad Program are given the opportunity to study inAntibes, France for their first semester.
The Grandey First-Year Honors program uses a leadership lens and a maker mindset to educate its scholars in principles of problem solving, team communication, and project management.[32] Similar to the Thorson First-Year Honors Program, the Grandey Honors Program replaces two freshmen-level classes with small seminar classes led by a rotating team of expert faculty.
The McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs integrates the liberal arts with science and engineering.[33] Accepting about 40 students per year, the McBride Honors Program places a high emphasis oninternships, particularly in public policy, industry, and the non-profit sector.[34]
To graduate with McBride Honors, scholars must complete a series of specialty classes as well as a self-designedpracticum. Past practica have included studying abroad,landscape painting, and making documentaries. Practicum funding is typically provided by the scholar and program aid, depending on the scholar's needs.[35]
The Harvey Scholars program attracts students with a passion for service. Programming includesluncheons with donors Hugh and Michelle Harvey, community-wide service activities, off-campus retreats, and small group dinners.[36]
A Harvey Scholarship covers full tuition and mandatory fees for eight semesters at Mines. It also includes travel and enrichment grants to support study abroad programs, research pursuits, and professional development.
The Vanguard and Caldwell Communities of Scholars are for highly motivated female students who embody leadership skills and a desire to improve our world through science, technology, engineering and mathematics.[37] These service leadership programs develop transformational leaders through professional development, community service, and academic success opportunities over the course of four years.
As members of the Vanguard and Caldwell communities, scholars benefit from vertically integrated support within the cohort, access to women faculty and campus leadership, in addition to financial assistance. The Caldwell students receive a full tuition scholarship and are identified as students who demonstrate a commitment to the legacy and ideals of Florence Caldwell.[38] Vanguard scholars receive a partial scholarship and are identified as students who will lead the way in making advances in STEM for society upon graduation.
The Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program provides funding for full-time undergraduate students to collaborate with campus researchers.[39] This provides students with an opportunity to participate in research projects under the mentorship of Mines faculty in every field represented at Mines. Some past research MURF students have contributed to includes research onParticle Physics,Explosives Engineering, andOceanography.[40]
Every undergraduate must complete one or morefield sessions. Field session is designed to expose student's to practical skills in their discipline and provide experience graduates can lean on in their careers. Typically, field sessions are offered in the summer, although some departments offer field sessions during theacademic year.
Field session topics depend on the students interests and major. Earth science students go on trips tosurvey and conduct research,[41] while engineering students may complete aco-op, build semiconductors, or operate a chemical plant.[42]
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global – Overall | |
| QS World[43] | 571 (2026) |
| Chemistry | 96 |
| Computer Science | 91 |
| Earth Sciences | 28 |
| Engineering | 59 |
| Mathematics | 117 |
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 68% | ||
| Hispanic | 13% | ||
| Asian | 7% | ||
| Two or more races | 6% | ||
| International student | 2% | ||
| Unknown | 2% | ||
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1% | ||
| Black | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 13% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 87% | ||
For freshmen entering Fall 2021, Colorado School of Mines received 12,022 applications, accepted 6,838 (56.9%) and enrolled 1,449 (12.1% of those who applied).[50] The middle 50% range ofSAT scores for the enrolled freshmen was 650–720 for evidence-based reading, and 660–750 for math, while theACT Composite range was 29–33.[50] The averageGPA was 3.84. Of the incoming class, 32.7% were women.[50]
Freshmen students at Colorado School of Mines are expected (but not required) to participate in the M Climb during orientation week. During this climb, students carry a ten-pound rock up Mt. Zion. Before ascending up the mountain, students are given colored hard-hats, which are spray-painted by members of the Blue Key Honor Society.[51] Along the climb, other students encourage the new students with water balloons, silly string, and lead the new students in learning the Mines' fight song. At the top of the mountain, students place their rock on the "M," a large sign made of rocks in the shape of Mines' M logo, and paint the M white using whitewash.[52] On graduation, seniors are invited to take a rock from the M as a keepsake of their time at Mines.[53]
Beginning in 1934, Mines students have celebrated Engineering Days during the spring semester.[54] During E-Days, classes are canceled and students attend a variety of events beginning with the ore cart pull. Students take turns pulling an ore cart down 7.5 miles ofColfax Avenue to the state capitol building, where the governor of Colorado officially declares the start of E-Days.[55] E-Days continues with field events, tech demos, concerts, comedians, manual mining competitions, and a trebuchet contest. The next morning, teams race cardboard boats down Clear Creek, competing to see which team sails the farthest before sinking. A carnival is held during the day and theFormula SAE club hosts a car show.[56]
The tradition of awarding silver diplomas was started in 1934 by Charles Hull, an Instrument Designer at Mines.[57] Since then, every graduate receives a silver diploma upon graduation from Mines. In 1935,President Herbert Hoover, who was a guest at the commencement ceremonies, was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Engineering for his contribution in translatingDe re metallica from Latin to English.[58]
In the 1930s, a Golden local began to bring his burro to football games. The burro quickly became the school mascot, now known as "Blaster the Burro".[59] Blaster is represented by two separate burros, bothracing burros fromIdaho Springs, Colorado. Both are known as Blaster while at Mines.[60]
Around 1890 as a celebration of graduation, graduates of Mines received their "Engineer's" hat. These hats were worn by engineers whileworking underground, and whenever a visitor to a mine wanted to talk to the engineer, they were told to go find the guy in the funny hat.[61] Today, graduates receive one of two versions of the Engineer's hat, to be signed and branded upon graduation.[62]
Colorado School of Mines was ranked best NCAA DII school in the U.S. for student-athletes, according toNext College Student Athlete's 2022 NCSA Power Rankings.[63] The NCSA Power Rankings recognize the best colleges and universities in the U.S. for student-athletes.[64]
In 2022, the Orediggers won their third national title in men'scross country, posting the largest margin of victory in meet history with 143-points.[65] In December 2022, Oredigger football played in their firstNCAA Division II national championship inMcKinney, Texas, and lost toFerris State 41-14.[66]
 | This sectionshould include a summary ofList of Colorado School of Mines people. SeeWikipedia:Summary style for information on how to incorporate it into this article's main text.(March 2025) |
.jpg)
Informational notes
Citations
