by our College Data Analytics TeamThis major allows you to study minerals like coal, metals, and diamonds and how to remove them from the earth safely and in an environmentally friendly way. As a mining engineer you get to help plan and design mines as well as manage them. This program will teach you the science behind mining and minerals. You will also learn about mineral processing and refining methods. Mining engineers usually specialize in one mineral or metal, so you get a broad education and then choose one subject that interests you the most.
Some courses that you may take could include: calculus, geology, chemistry, surveying, physics, soil and rock mechanics, mining, mineral extraction, mineral processing, metallurgy, and engineering.
In 2021-2022, mining engineering was the 306th most popular major nationwide with 312 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best Mining Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 9 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for mining engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of mining engineering programs later in this article.
As a Mining Engineer you may have to make decisions that will affect profits, but more importantly the lives of miners and workers. At school you will learn how to anticipate problems and ways to immediately deal with crucial problems.
You will be using math and science to solve and analyze problem sets. These problems will not be easy, but with persistence and help from your peers and professors you will be able to solve them. Team work is important in this field. College is a great time to refine your communication skills to prepare you for your professional work.
Your professor will expect you to be able to think logically. You should be able to plan mine operations and mineral processing in a logical sequence which will help prepare you for the real world. Writing is also very important to a mining engineer. Your writing needs to be clear and concise so that others able to understand your plans.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific mining engineering careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of mining engineering degrees. Mining Engineering programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest mining engineering degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common mining engineering degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to mining engineering, with approximately 45.7% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to mining engineering tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 51.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 19.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 12.0% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 9.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 3.6% |
Most workers in mining engineering have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in mining engineering have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which mining engineering career you choose.
Mining Engineers find work in several different fields. You could work with geologists and metallurgic engineers to find new mineral deposits. Others are interested in developing new equipment or processing operations.
Want a job when you graduate with your mining engineering degree? Mining Engineering careers are expected to grow 7.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to mining engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
| Mining and Geological Engineers | 7,900 | 8.2% |
Recently graduated mining engineering students earned an average of $81,999 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $74,793 to as high as $90,514. As you might expect, salaries for mining engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for mining engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers mining engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers | $98,420 |
With over 46 different mining engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased mining engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Mining Engineering is one of 41 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mining & Mineral Engineering | 312 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 44,794 |
| Electrical Engineering | 26,528 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,655 |
| Computer Engineering | 16,954 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 13,222 |
Image Credit: By Alastair Rae under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
