Colorado School of Mines — ROI, Cost & Payback
Colorado School of Mines charges a net price of $28,690/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $114,760. Graduates earn a median $97,335 ten years after entry, $48,975/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.3 years — a 20-year net return of $864,740, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Colorado School of Mines's 2.3-year payback ranks #104 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 92% of them, and #1 of 50 in Colorado.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $28,690/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $114,760 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $97,335 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $48,975/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $864,740 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Colorado School of Mines's own numbers. Net price $28,690 × 4 years = $114,760 total. Median earnings $97,335 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $48,975 a year of premium. $114,760 ÷ $48,975 = 2.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $864,740. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Colorado School of Mines students graduate with?
A median $23,000 in federal loans among completers, or 24% of the $97,335 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Colorado School of Mines students graduate?
82% finish their degree. Spread the $114,760 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $139,951 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Colorado School of Mines expensive compared with other Colorado colleges?
Its $28,690 net price runs $12,223 above the $16,468 median across the 50 Colorado colleges we profile, or $48,890 more across the full degree.