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 |
![]() 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% |
![]() |
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 |
|
|
|
||
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 |
|
|
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)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological/Geophysical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.










































































































































































