Head-to-Head Comparison
Colorado School of Mines vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA
- Colorado Mines Wins
- 19
- Tied
- 15
- Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
- 14
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Colorado School of Mines offers a significantly safer investment tier. With an annual cost of $28,690 vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545, Colorado School of Mines delivers strong outcomes at a fraction of the price. For students prioritizing lower student debt over initial institution prestige, Colorado School of Mines's lower price point delivers a highly efficient debt-to-earnings path.
48 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 $10,855 a year less
- Higher grad rate: 81% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- Less debt: Median debt of $23,000, the lower of the two
- More selective: Admits 61% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
Massachusetts Pharmacy
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, 29% more than Colorado School of Mines
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Colorado Mines graduates concentrate in Engineering (74% of degrees); Massachusetts Pharmacy in Health Professions (93%). 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 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Colorado School of Mines. Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment vs $97,335.
Pick Colorado School of Mines over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Net price $28,690 vs $39,545.
Pick Colorado School of Mines over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 81% completion rate vs 63%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Colorado School of Mines and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are close on paper, but Colorado School of Mines 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
Colorado School of Mines is the harder admit. It takes 61% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,412 to 1,269.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Colorado School of Mines 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 $10,855 a year below Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545. Graduates of Colorado School of Mines also borrow less: median debt of $23,000, against $25,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $43,420 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, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report median earnings of $125,557, compared with $97,335 at Colorado School of Mines. That is a 29% advantage. Set against borrowing, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.2x to 0.24x.
So what: An earnings gap of 29% 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
Colorado School of Mines graduates a larger share of its students, 81% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 18% 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.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Colorado School of Mines to keep costs and debt down; pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for the higher earnings ceiling.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.
Counterintuitive Insights
The cheaper school is not the lower-earning one here. Colorado School of Mines saves about $10,855 a year, yet Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn $28,222 more ten years after enrollment. The cost advantage and the earnings premium sit at different schools, so your time horizon decides which counts more.
Their academic identities diverge. Colorado School of Mines concentrates enrollment in Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Mathematics & Statistics, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leans toward Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Students who want a smaller campus: Colorado School of Mines's enrollment of 6,155 far exceeds Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's 3,451.
- Cost-conscious students: net price of $39,545 runs well above Colorado School of Mines's $28,690.
- STEM and CS-focused students: tech programs are a smaller part of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's enrollment, and Colorado School of Mines is stronger here.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 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.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.
Rankings They Appear On
Colorado School of Mines is featured on the Best Colleges in Colorado ranking.
Top Degree Programs
Colorado Mines's top program is Mechanical Engineering (74% of enrollment), while Massachusetts Pharmacy leads with Nursing (BSN) (93%).
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Software Developer, Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Analyst (for Colorado Mines) and Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy).
The two schools feed different job markets. Colorado School of Mines is strongest in Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Mathematics & Statistics, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates in Health Professions, Psychology, Physical 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.
Colorado Mines
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Colorado School of Mines or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Colorado School of Mines is harder to get into, admitting 61% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Which is more affordable, Colorado School of Mines or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Colorado School of Mines is more affordable, with an average net price of $28,690 after aid versus $39,545 at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Do Colorado School of Mines or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more: median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, versus $97,335 at Colorado School of Mines.
Which has a better graduation rate, Colorado School of Mines or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Colorado School of Mines has the higher graduation rate, 81% versus 63%.
Should you choose Colorado School of Mines or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Colorado School of Mines if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 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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How do Colorado Mines and Massachusetts Pharmacy stack up against regional and national alternatives when evaluated on pure socioeconomic mobility, graduate earnings, and long-term return on investment? Explore the full, verified dataset on our comprehensive rankings directory.
