Colorado School of Mines vs Washington State University (WSU)

Colorado School of Mines and Washington State University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Colorado School of Mines, a specialized research university, boasts a 79% acceptance rate and is renowned for its engineering and science programs. Washington State University, a public research university, has a higher acceptance rate of 82% and offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including strong programs in agriculture, engineering, and business. While both universities provide a vibrant campus life, Colorado School of Mines has a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community, while Washington State University's larger student population offers a more diverse and bustling campus environment. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover further distinctions between these two exceptional universities and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Colorado School of Mines logo

Colorado School of Mines

Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Overview

Location Golden, Colorado Pullman, Washington
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 56.9% 85.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1310 - 1470 N/A
ACT range 29 - 33 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 53.0%
Students submitting ACT score 31.0%
Total number of applicants 12,022 18,197
Total number of admissions given out 6,838 15,607
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,449 4,007
Yield rate 21.2% 25.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $34,245

Out of state: $55,545
In state: $28,767

Out of state: $44,083
Average net price $26,179 $11,877
Tuition
In state: $17,160

Out of state: $38,460
In state: $10,457

Out of state: $25,773
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,196

Meal plan: $6,520
Room/dormitory: $7,400

Meal plan: $4,350
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $10,778
86.0%
Average amount $9,993
Students receiving federal student loan 43.0%
Average amount $5,292
27.0%
Average amount $5,042
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $24,651
3.0%
Average amount $15,454

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,487
Men 68.4% Women 31.6%
24,278
Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
Graduate students 1,700
Men 69.1% Women 30.9%
5,565
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 43.6% 15.2%
International students 8.8% 5.7%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 2,445 7,043
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Colorado Texas California Washington Illinois Washington California Oregon Idaho Hawaii

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Physical Science
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 83.2% 59.5%
Dropout rate 10.5% 38.1%
Transferred out 4.8% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,022
  • Year 2: $77,213
  • Year 3: $99,390
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,458
  • Year 2: $78,971
  • Year 3: $97,622
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,719
  • Year 2: $77,966
  • Year 3: $94,221
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,308
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $91,467
Geological/Geophysical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,159
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $90,384
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,554
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $84,256
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,556
  • Year 2: $70,886
  • Year 3: $82,164
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,256
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $82,134
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,029
  • Year 2: $64,865
  • Year 3: $78,404
Engineering Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,721
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $77,926
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $143,888
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,911
  • Year 2: $123,178
  • Year 3: $127,531
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,080
  • Year 2: $100,915
  • Year 3: $120,737
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,957
  • Year 2: $112,073
  • Year 3: $119,910
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,275
  • Year 2: $105,813
  • Year 3: $117,478
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,971
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $96,760
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,468
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $88,746
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,693
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $81,535
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,112
  • Year 2: $68,808
  • Year 3: $80,939
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,531
  • Year 2: $72,881
  • Year 3: $79,650

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