by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mining Engineering](/majors/engineering/mining-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying mining engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study mining engineering affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we built our Highest Paid Mining Engineering Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose mining engineering degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Mining Engineering Graduates list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose mining engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Colorado School Of Mines tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying mining engineering schools in the United States. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school located in the suburb of Golden. After graduating, mining engineering degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines typically earn about $121,247 annually.
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mining engineering schools. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. Students who complete the mining engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,923.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Arizona earned it the #3 place for mining engineering. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. Students who complete the mining engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,825.
Students chasing top earnings in mining engineering will find them at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology, which ranked #4. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public school located in the city of Rapid City. After graduating, mining engineering degree recipients from South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology typically earn about $90,514 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in mining engineering will find them at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #5. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school located in the town of Rolla. After graduating, mining engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology typically earn about $88,893 annually.
West Virginia University landed the #6 spot for mining engineering salaries this year. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Mining Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of about $92,289 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kentucky came in at #7 for mining engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Kentucky is a public school located in the city of Lexington. Mining Engineering graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of about $85,709 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for mining engineering. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students who complete the mining engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,761.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their mining engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
