Head-to-Head Comparison
Colorado School of Mines vs Duke University
- Colorado Mines Wins
- 15
- Tied
- 12
- Duke Wins
- 27
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Colorado School of Mines offers a significantly safer investment tier. While Duke University achieves a higher graduation rate (96% vs 81%), its annual cost of attendance sits at $29,612 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 $922 a year less
- Social mobility: Chetty mobility rate of 2.5%, the stronger record of moving students up the income ladder
Duke
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $97,800 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 $13,000, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 6% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
- Research prestige: THE World Rank #24
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Colorado Mines graduates concentrate in Engineering (74% of degrees); Duke in Engineering (15%). 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 Duke University over Colorado School of Mines. Median earnings of $97,800 ten years after enrollment vs $97,335.
Pick Colorado School of Mines over Duke University. Net price $28,690 vs $29,612.
Pick Duke University over Colorado School of Mines. THE World Rank #24 vs #201-225.
Pick Colorado School of Mines over Duke University. 2.5% mobility rate vs 1.6%.
Pick Duke University 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 Duke University are close on paper, but Duke University 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
Duke University is the harder admit. It takes 6% of applicants, while Colorado School of Mines takes 61%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,412 to 1,548.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Duke University 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 $922 a year below Duke University's $29,612. Graduates of Duke University also borrow less: median debt of $13,000, against $23,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $3,688 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, Duke University graduates report median earnings of $97,800, compared with $97,335 at Colorado School of Mines. That is a 0% advantage. Set against borrowing, Duke University has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.13x 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
Duke University 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 Duke University, it is 1.6%. Colorado School of Mines also enrolls the larger share of low-income students: 3.9% come from the bottom income quintile, versus 3.2%.
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, Duke University sits higher, at #24 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 Duke University 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 $922 a year, yet Duke University graduates earn $465 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Duke University is harder to get into, with a 6% 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 Computer Science & IT, Mathematics & Statistics, while Duke University leans toward Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical. 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 $13,000 at Duke University.
- STEM and CS-focused students: tech programs are a smaller part of Duke University's enrollment, and Colorado School of Mines is stronger here.
Full Data Breakdown
Inside the admissions office
Duke 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.
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofit
With an acceptance rate of just 6%, Duke University is a place where ambitious students thrive. It attracts those who are serious about their education and want to dive deep into areas like Social Sciences, Computer Science, Biology, Engineering, and Health Professions. The community here is vibrant, and students often find themselves surrounded by peers who share a passion for learning and a drive to make an impact.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, students from Duke can expect strong earning potential, with a median salary of $97,800 a decade after they leave. That’s a solid return on investment, especially considering the affordable nature of the education relative to earnings. Graduates tend to find good job opportunities, reflecting the high graduation rate of 96%. This means that most students not only complete their degrees but also enter the workforce prepared and competitive.
On the financial side, the net price for students, after aid, stands at $29,612, which is manageable given the earnings potential. The typical debt load is $13,000, which is relatively low and suggests that many students can graduate without being weighed down by heavy financial burdens. This creates an environment where motivated individuals can thrive, especially those who are eager to leverage their education into successful careers.
Rankings They Appear On
Colorado School of Mines and Duke University appear together in 2 rankings. On the Colleges With the Highest Inventor Rate, Colorado School of Mines ranks #1 — Colorado School of Mines outranks Duke University by 29 positions.
Top Degree Programs
Both schools share Mechanical Engineering as their top enrolled program field, comprising 74% of Colorado Mines's student body and 15% of Duke's.
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 Duke).
The two schools feed different job markets. Colorado School of Mines is strongest in Mathematics & Statistics, while Duke University 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 Duke University?
Duke University is harder to get into, admitting 6% of applicants compared with 61% at Colorado School of Mines.
Which is more affordable, Colorado School of Mines or Duke University?
Colorado School of Mines is more affordable, with an average net price of $28,690 after aid versus $29,612 at Duke University.
Do Colorado School of Mines or Duke University graduates earn more?
Duke University graduates earn more: median earnings of $97,800 ten years after enrollment, versus $97,335 at Colorado School of Mines.
Which has a better graduation rate, Colorado School of Mines or Duke University?
Duke University has the higher graduation rate, 96% versus 81%.
Colorado School of Mines vs Duke University: 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 1.6%.
Should you choose Colorado School of Mines or Duke University?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Colorado School of Mines if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Duke University 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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