A bachelor’s in mining engineering degree program prepares students for an exciting career in a highly lucrative industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mining engineers earn a median wage of $94,041 per year. Although most bachelor of mining engineering programs are similar in their course content, some programs offer specialization options that can give graduates a competitive edge in the industry. In this ranking, we explore the 10 top value bachelor’s in mining engineering programs.
Ranking Methodology
Tuition Points:
• Under $30,000—1 point
• Under $25,000—2 points
• Under $20,000—3 points
• Under $15,000—4 points
• Under $10,000—5 points
Students Receiving Financial Aid:
• 60%– 1 point
• 70%–2 points
• 80%–3 points
• 90%–4 points
Customization Options
• Content Customizations (e.g. Concentrations and Specializations)—1 Point Per Customization Option
• Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
Wow Factor
• 1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
To compile the following list of best value colleges for a bachelor’s in mining engineering, our editors searched College Navigator for all schools in the U.S. offering this degree program. The search yielded 16 results. We then visited the websites of each school to gather information regarding schedule and content customization options. We then combined this information with data regarding tuition and financial aid from College Navigator to apply the ranking methodology above. What resulted is the following ranking of the 10 top value schools for a bachelor’s in mining engineering. Please note that in cases in which two or more schools received the same number of points, we used the schools’ tuition to break the tie, awarding the higher ranking to the more affordable school.
Best Value Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Mining Engineering
#10 – Southern Illinois University
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Carbondale, Illinois
Website
Points: 8
Southern Illinois University offers a comprehensive bachelor’s in mining engineering degree program through its Department of Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering. The curriculum is comprised of a 39-credit hour university core and 87 credit hours of courses required for the mining engineering major. Specialty course topics include Mining Environmental Impacts and Permits, Mineral and Coal Processing, Analysis and Design of Mine Excavations, and Mine Ventilation Systems Analysis and Design. Bachelor of mining engineering students must also complete a cooperative education experience in order to earn their degrees.
Tuition: $13,137
#9 – South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Rapid City, South Dakota
Points: 8
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology offers a 130-credit hour bachelor’s in mining engineering program from its Department of Mining Engineering and Management. Specialty course topic include Mining & Management Math, Underground Mining Methods, Computer Apps in Mining, and Mine Management. Bachelor of mining engineering students participate in hands-on learning experiences in the university’s state-of-the-art facilities and labs, including the rock mechanics laboratory, the mine ventilation lab, and the computer-aided mine design lab.
Tuition: $11,170
#8 – 
Bachelor’s in Mining Engineering
Salt Lake City, Utah
Website
Points: 8
The University of Utah offers a comprehensive bachelor’s in mining engineering program through its College of Mines and Earth Sciences. This undergraduate program is comprised of a general education core, basic engineering courses such as Electrical Engineering and Mechanics of Materials, geology classes like Exploration Geology and Mineralogy, and specialty mining engineering courses, including Surface Mining Methods, Mine Administration and Finance, and Mine Reclamation. Bachelor of mining engineering students must complete a senior design project prior to graduation.
Tuition: $8,197
#7 – Michigan Tech
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Houghton, Michigan
Website
Points: 9
Michigan Tech offers a newly updated multidisciplinary bachelor’s in mining engineering from its Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences. The curriculum integrates coursework from other engineering departments such as civil engineering and chemical engineering as well as from the School of Technology. Traditional coursework is complimented by experiential learning such as lab experiments, mining field trips, and study abroad opportunities. Michigan Tech’s bachelor of mining engineering students graduate well-prepared for post graduate study or entry-level positions as mine managers, geotechnical engineers, mining geostatisticians, and consulting engineers, among other related roles.
Tuition: $14,286
#6 – Montana Tech
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Butte, Montana
Website
Points: 9
Montana Tech University’s bachelor’s in mining engineering program features a prescribed, comprehensive curriculum. In addition to general education requirements, students will take basic engineering courses such as Introduction to Engineering Calculations & Problem Solving and Engineering Programming, Design, and Problem Solving. There are also classes specific to mining engineering, including Mine Safety Management, Unit Mining Operation, Mine Design Surface, and Mine Ventilation. Frequent lab experiments add a component of experiential learning to this bachelor of mining engineering program.
Tuition: $6,539
#5 – The University of Arizona
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Tucson, Arizona
Website
Points: 11
The University of Arizona’s 128-credit hour bachelor’s in mining engineering program features four available tracks: mine operations, geomechanics, sustainable resource development, and mineral processing. In addition to general education courses, students will enroll in core engineering courses such as Introductory Mechanics, Physical Geology, and Mineralogy and Petrology for Engineers as well as track-specific classes, including Mine Examination and Evaluation, Geopositioning for Mining Applications, Industrial & Environmental Health, and Hydrometallurgy. Bachelor of mining engineering students must complete a senior design project prior to graduation.
Tuition: $11,403
#4 – West Virginia University
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Morgantown, West Virginia
Website
Points: 11
West Virginia University offers a prescribed bachelor’s in mining engineering program through its Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. The curriculum consists of a general education required core, basic engineering courses such as Introduction to Nanotechnology Design and Orientation to Engineering, a non-mining engineering core including course titles like Reclamation of Disturbed Soils and Fluid Mechanics, and a mining engineering core featuring specialty classes such as Mine and Safety Management, Coal Preparation, and Mineral Property Evaluation. Bachelor of mining engineering students can also choose to pursue dual degrees in civil engineering or geology.
Tuition: $7,632
#3 – The University of Alaska—Fairbanks
Bachelor’s in Mining Engineering
Fairbanks, Alaska
Website
Points: 10
The University of Alaska—Fairbanks offers a 132-credit hour bachelor’s in mining engineering degree program with three specialization options: exploration, mining, and mineral beneficiation. Some required course topics include Underground Mine Environmental Engineering, Principles and Applications of Industrial Explosives, and Mine Reclamation and Environmental Management. Recommended technical electives include titles such as Arctic Engineering, Coal Preparation, and Slope Stability. Bachelor of mining engineering students must sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination prior to graduation.
Tuition: $5,674
#2 – University of Nevada—Reno
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Reno, Nevada
Website
Points: 12
The University of Nevada—Reno offers a bachelor’s in mining engineering degree program with three areas of emphasis for students to choose from: General Option, Quarry Option, and Mineral Processing/Extractive Metallurgy Option. The curriculum is comprised of courses in mine planning, mine operations, hydraulics, electric circuits, and thermodynamics. In addition to traditional coursework, the curriculum includes several practical laboratory experiences. Bachelor of mining engineering students will complete a mine feasibility study as their capstone project. They must also sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination during their senior year.
Tuition: $16,986
#1 – Missouri University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering
Rolla, Missouri
Website
Points: 15
Missouri University of Science & Technology offers a highly customizable bachelor’s in mining engineering with emphases in explosives engineering, mining health and safety, quarry engineering, coal, mining and the environment, and sustainable development. The curriculum consists of general education requirements, foundational engineering courses such as Introduction to Engineering Design and Structural Geology, as well as specialty course titles, including Blasting Design and Technology, Aggregate Materials Sizing and Characterization, and Coal Mine Development and Production. In order to earn their degrees, bachelor of mining engineering students must pass the Graduating Mining Engineers (GME) Examination.
Tuition: $9,048
Sources:
NCES College Navigator
CVO Staff
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