2026 Best Value Mining & Mineral Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Mining & Mineral Engineering](/majors/engineering/mining-engineering/mining-mineral-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mining & mineral engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Mining & Mineral Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mining & mineral engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mining & Mineral Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Missouri University Of Science And Technology, our #1 best value for mining & mineral engineering in the The Plains States Region. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the mining & mineral engineering program here. Mining & Mineral Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $74,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned it the #2 place for mining & mineral engineering. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mining & mineral engineering graduates is $27,914. Soon after graduation, mining & mineral engineering degree recipients from South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology generally make around $90,514. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
