by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 262 degrees and certificates in Mining Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Mining Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $83,507 one year after completing, rising to $103,868 after four years.
This 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.
A degree in Mining Engineering covers Mining And Mineral Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., mining engineering draws strong interest, with 262 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award mining engineering degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 48.
By level, the 262 awards include 9 associate degrees, 122 bachelor’s degrees, 108 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.
Women earned 24% of mining engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (62 of 262). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (116) and Hispanic or Latino (25), and international students earned 85.
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Mining Engineering Schools ranking, including 6 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks mining engineering schools within 7 states. In all, 15 colleges offer mining engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Mining Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common mining engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 122 of the 262 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to mining engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
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.
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How long a mining engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 122 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 108 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to mining engineering, at 36.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Mining Engineering, with an average median salary of $102,183; the strongest outlook belongs to Architectural and Engineering Managers, at 9.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Faculty Member, Instructor, Electrical Engineering Teacher and Marine Engineering Professor.
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.
The occupation related to mining engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 259,417 | 6.2% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Mining Engineering graduates earn a median $83,507 one year after completing their program, $103,868 after four years and $98,291 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,507 |
| 4 years | $103,868 |
| 5 years | $98,291 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to mining engineering is Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers, with a median salary of $138,303.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $138,303 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
Mining Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Mining and Mineral Engineering (262). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,773 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | 262 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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