Head-to-Head Comparison
Colorado School of Mines vs Dartmouth College
- Colorado Mines Wins
- 16
- Tied
- 12
- Dartmouth Wins
- 26
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Colorado School of Mines offers a significantly safer investment tier. While Dartmouth College achieves a higher graduation rate (96% vs 81%), its annual cost of attendance sits at $29,519 compared to Colorado School of Mines's $28,690. Students who choose Colorado School of Mines benefit from a cost structure that keeps debt manageable while maintaining competitive graduate earnings of $97,335 at ten years.
54 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Colorado Mines
- Lower cost: Average net price of $28,690, roughly $829 a year less
- Social mobility: Chetty mobility rate of 2.5%, the stronger record of moving students up the income ladder
Dartmouth
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $97,434 ten years after enrollment, 0% more than Colorado School of Mines
- Higher grad rate: 96% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- Less debt: Median debt of $17,500, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 5% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
- Research prestige: THE World Rank #99
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Colorado Mines graduates concentrate in Engineering (74% of degrees); Dartmouth in Social Sciences (24%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Dartmouth College over Colorado School of Mines. Median earnings of $97,434 ten years after enrollment vs $97,335.
Pick Colorado School of Mines over Dartmouth College. Net price $28,690 vs $29,519.
Pick Dartmouth College over Colorado School of Mines. THE World Rank #99 vs #201-225.
Pick Colorado School of Mines over Dartmouth College. 2.5% mobility rate vs 1.4%.
Pick Dartmouth College over Colorado School of Mines. 96% completion rate vs 81%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Colorado School of Mines and Dartmouth College are close on paper, but Dartmouth College wins the head-to-head, leading on 4 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
Dartmouth College is the harder admit. It takes 5% of applicants, while Colorado School of Mines takes 61%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,412 to 1,534.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Dartmouth College sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, Colorado School of Mines comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $28,690, about $829 a year below Dartmouth College's $29,519. Graduates of Dartmouth College also borrow less: median debt of $17,500, against $23,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $3,316 before any change in aid. Choosing Colorado School of Mines leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Dartmouth College graduates report median earnings of $97,434, compared with $97,335 at Colorado School of Mines. That is a 0% advantage. Set against borrowing, Dartmouth College has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.18x to 0.24x.
So what: An earnings gap of 0% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
Dartmouth College graduates a larger share of its students, 96% versus 81%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 15% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Moving people up
Colorado School of Mines does more to move students up the income ladder. Its Chetty mobility rate is 2.5%; at Dartmouth College, it is 1.4%. Colorado School of Mines also enrolls the larger share of low-income students: 3.9% come from the bottom income quintile, versus 2.8%.
So what: For first-generation and low-income students, Colorado School of Mines offers the stronger statistical shot at reaching the top of the income distribution. The gap is wide enough to weigh in any access-minded decision.
Research standing
In the Times Higher Education world table, Dartmouth College sits higher, at #99 versus #201.
So what: Research rank matters most for students headed to graduate school or hoping to work in faculty labs. For undergraduates going straight into the job market, it is a weak predictor of earnings.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Colorado School of Mines to keep costs and debt down; pick Dartmouth College for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 6 of 6 core signals used here, so every comparison above matches reported data against reported data.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. Colorado School of Mines saves about $829 a year, yet Dartmouth College graduates earn $99 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Dartmouth College is harder to get into, with a 5% admit rate, but Colorado School of Mines posts the higher mobility rate, at 2.5%. Selectivity and income mobility measure different things; here, the easier admit does more for the low-income students it enrolls.
Their academic identities diverge. Colorado School of Mines concentrates enrollment in Mathematics & Statistics, while Dartmouth College leans toward Social Sciences. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Students minimizing debt: median debt is $23,000, against $17,500 at Dartmouth College.
- STEM and CS-focused students: tech programs are a smaller part of Dartmouth College's enrollment, and Colorado School of Mines is stronger here.
Full Data Breakdown
Inside the admissions office
Dartmouth offers a binding Early Decision round that can lift your odds; Colorado Mines does not, so there is no early-commitment lever to pull there.
Source: each school's published Common Data Set, via collegedata.fyi.
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Admissions Strategy (Common Data Set) 6 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Research (Times HE) 4 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO · Public
Graduates from the Colorado School of Mines earn a median salary of $97,335 just ten years after enrollment. This impressive figure reflects the school's strong focus on engineering and applied sciences. With a student body of 6,155, Mines attracts students who are serious about pursuing careers in technical fields.
The school has an 81% graduation rate, indicating that most students complete their degrees in a timely manner. While specific mobility and economic connectedness data are not available, the focus on high-demand areas like engineering and computer science generally leads to strong job prospects for graduates. Students who come from lower-income backgrounds may find support through limited Pell Grant funding, as 14% of students receive these grants.
Attending Mines comes with a net price of $28,690, and graduates typically leave with a median debt of $23,000. This combination of cost and potential earnings makes the return on investment favorable. Students who thrive here are often those with a solid foundation in math and science, ready to tackle challenging coursework in a collaborative environment.
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit
With an acceptance rate of just 5%, Dartmouth College attracts students who are not only academically gifted but also eager to engage deeply in their studies. The student body, numbering around 4,541, tends to gravitate toward popular fields like Social Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Biology. This creates a vibrant intellectual community where collaboration and exploration are at the forefront. If you thrive in a competitive environment and are looking for a college experience that emphasizes both rigorous academics and a tight-knit community, Dartmouth might be a good fit for you.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, students from Dartmouth see impressive earnings, averaging $97,434 within ten years of graduating. This financial trajectory speaks volumes about the value of a Dartmouth degree in the job market. Affordability is also a consideration, with a net price of $29,519 after financial aid, making it somewhat accessible for many families. While the Pell Grant rate is relatively low at 14%, those who do receive aid can significantly lessen their financial burden, setting them up for a more secure future.
When it comes to the practicalities, the median debt for graduates is $17,500, which is manageable compared to many institutions. This financial landscape suggests that students who thrive here are often those who are ambitious and ready to engage with both the academic and extracurricular opportunities available. Dartmouth fosters a culture that encourages personal growth and professional success, making it a great place for driven individuals looking to make their mark.
Rankings They Appear On
Colorado School of Mines and Dartmouth College appear together in 2 rankings. On the Colleges With the Highest Inventor Rate, Colorado School of Mines ranks #1 — Colorado School of Mines outranks Dartmouth College by 24 positions.
Top Degree Programs
Colorado Mines's top program is Mechanical Engineering (74% of enrollment), while Dartmouth leads with Sociology (24%).
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Colorado Mines) and Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Dartmouth).
The two schools feed different job markets. Colorado School of Mines is strongest in Mathematics & Statistics, while Dartmouth College concentrates in Social Sciences. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Colorado School of Mines or Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth College is harder to get into, admitting 5% of applicants compared with 61% at Colorado School of Mines.
Which is more affordable, Colorado School of Mines or Dartmouth College?
Colorado School of Mines is more affordable, with an average net price of $28,690 after aid versus $29,519 at Dartmouth College.
Do Colorado School of Mines or Dartmouth College graduates earn more?
Dartmouth College graduates earn more: median earnings of $97,434 ten years after enrollment, versus $97,335 at Colorado School of Mines.
Which has a better graduation rate, Colorado School of Mines or Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth College has the higher graduation rate, 96% versus 81%.
Colorado School of Mines vs Dartmouth College: which is better for social mobility?
Colorado School of Mines is the stronger driver of upward mobility, with a Chetty mobility rate of 2.5% versus 1.4%.
Should you choose Colorado School of Mines or Dartmouth College?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Colorado School of Mines if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Dartmouth College if you're optimizing for post-grad earnings. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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