Mines is the preeminent technical institute in the Mountain West. Getting in is not all that hard; getting through is another story. One-sixth the size of Texas Tech and best known for mining-related fields but strong in many areas of engineering. Men outnumber women by more than 2 to 1. Golden provides easy access to the mountains and Denver. Graduates are heavily recruited.

If you’re a bit of a geek whose only dilemma is what type of engineer to become, and you want to spend your scarce free time hiking, biking, and skiing with friends, then Colorado School of Mines may be the place for you. This public school’s small size and rugged location endear it to the students who shoulder heavy workloads to earn their degrees. “There are often fun and entertaining conversations that could only be possible with the types of students here,” says a mechanical engineering major. Just down the road from Coors Brewing Co., which taps the Rockies for its legendary brews, students at Mines learn to tap the same mountains for coal, oil, and other natural resources.

The school’s 373-acre campus sits in the shadow of the spectacular Rocky Mountains in tiny Golden (as in gold mining), Colorado. Architectural styles range from turn-of-the-century gold dome to present-day modern, and native trees and greenery punctuate lush lawns. The $50 million CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering is among the newest additions to campus.

At Mines, the academics are rigorous. Core requirements include coursework in humanities, social sciences, physical education, and, of course, science and engineering, with extra doses of physics, chemistry, calculus, and differential equations. In the first year, everyone takes the Freshman Success Seminar, an advising and mentoring course. The required two-semester EPIC program-the acronym stands for Engineering Practices Introductory Course-helps develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills with weekly presentations and written reports. Because of Mines’s narrow focus, the undergraduate majors-or “options,” as they’re called-are quite good. There’s plenty of variety, as long as you are into engineering; programs range from geophysical, metallurgical, and petroleum to chemical, electrical, and mechanical. Computer science, another popular choice, is the school’s fastest-growing program. Mines offers the only B.S. degree in economics in Colorado and has been investing more in humanities and social sciences, offering several minors in these areas. Courses in a student’s option start in the second semester of sophomore year, and as seniors, all students complete a capstone requirement.

Pass/fail grading is unheard of at Mines, but failing grades are not. “The courses are hard,” says a junior, “but good time management and friends” help ease the angst. “We are all working together,” another adds. Professors are qualified and helpful, and adjunct professors, who work in the fields they teach, draw raves for their practical knowledge. “Most of the teachers have industry experience and bring that into the classroom,” a chemistry major says. Twenty-nine percent of undergraduate classes have fewer than 20 students.

Mines supplements coursework with a required six-week summer field session, enabling students to gain hands-on experience. About 100 undergraduates participate in the McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs, which includes seminars and off-campus activities that encourage them to think differently about the implications of technology. The WISEM program provides training, mentoring, and other support for women in science, engineering, and math. The school also offers exchange programs with 25 universities worldwide, but only 7 to 10 percent of students study abroad. Each year, 100 to 120 undergraduates participate in research with faculty members or on their own.

Established in 1874 to serve the mining industry, Mines is a state school, making it a good deal for homegrown students, who comprise 55 percent of the undergraduate student body. Five percent hail from foreign nations. “Most of the students would be considered nerds or geeks at other schools,” a civil engineering major explains, “but almost everyone fits in here.” Hispanics comprise 9 percent of the student body, Asian Americans 4 percent, African Americans 1 percent, and multiracial students 6 percent. Students are generally too wrapped up in academics to pay attention to political issues, according to a physics major. Merit scholarships averaging $8,900 are available to qualified students, and athletes may vie for 375 athletic scholarships.

Freshmen are required to live in the residence halls; most students move off campus after the first year. Most buildings are co-ed, though the preponderance of men results in a few single-sex dorms. “All the residence halls have been refurbished and are looking better than ever,” a sophomore says. Options for upperclassmen include fraternity or sorority housing, college-owned apartments, and off-campus condos and houses. There’s only one cafeteria, Mines Market, and a junior says, “The vegetarian options are not very good unless you really like cereal and salad” (presumably not during the same meal).

There is life outside of the computer labs here. On campus, a junior says, “There is always a club putting together an event or just students throwing parties.” Mines has an active Greek system, with fraternities and sororities attracting 15 percent of the men and 22 percent of the women. Rush is dry, and underage drinking is met with consequences. CU Boulder offers livelier partying 20 minutes away. The social scene also includes comedy shows, homecoming, and Engineering Days (E-Days)-a three-day party with fireworks, a pig roast, tricycle races, taco-eating contests, and cheap beers. New student orientation features the traditional “M Climb,” in which freshmen hike up Mount Zion lugging a 10-pound rock from their hometown, then “whitewash it, and each other,” says one participant. The rock is added to an M formation atop the mountain, and at the end of the year, “seniors return to take down a rock, completing the cycle.”

The school’s location at the base of the Rockies means gorgeous Colorado weather (make sure to bring sunscreen) and easy access to skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, and biking. Denver is also nearby, and aside from its museums, concerts, and sports teams, the city is home to many government agencies and businesses involved in natural resources, computers, and technology, including the regional offices of the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Mines. Golden hosts the National Earthquake Center, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and, of course, the Coors Brewery. Road trips to Las Vegas or Texas provide occasional respite from the school’s heavy workload.

Mines’s 18 Division II varsity teams compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The men’s cross-country team claimed the national title in 2019. Other competitive Oredigger teams include men’s and women’s soccer and basketball, women’s cross-country, and women’s volleyball. The intramural and club sports programs have grown dramatically, with 70 percent of students now participating.

While time spent in the classroom at Mines may be intense, for those who are focused on engineering, educational options don’t get much better than those offered here. “Lots of companies recruit our students,” says one senior, thanks to a stellar reputation in the fields of mining and engineering. A junior adds, “When you leave here, you’re prepared for anything.” Especially if you are an engineer.

-Fiske Guide