by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mining Engineering](/majors/engineering/mining-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a mining engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying mining engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send mining engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Colorado School Of Mines earned the #1 spot for highest-paid mining engineering graduates in the United States. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. After graduating, mining engineering degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines typically earn about $121,247 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Nevada Reno earned it the #2 place for mining engineering. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. Mining Engineering graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of about $94,923 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in mining engineering will find them at University Of Arizona, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Mining Engineering graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of about $102,825 a year early in their careers.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mining engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the mining engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,514.
Strong graduate earnings at Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned it the #5 place for mining engineering. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school located in the town of Rolla. Early-career mining engineering graduates from Missouri University Of Science And Technology make a median of around $88,893 per year.
West Virginia University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mining engineering schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Students who complete the mining engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,289.
University Of Kentucky ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mining engineering schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. After graduating, mining engineering degree recipients from University Of Kentucky typically earn about $85,709 annually.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mining engineering schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Mining Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $96,761 a year early in their careers.
Explore the highest-paying mining engineering schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries mining engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, 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.
