FIRST-YEAR STUDENT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

To complete your admission application, we must receive:

1. An electronically submitted admission application via Golden App or Common App.
2. Your current, official or unofficial high school transcript.
   • Ask your high school counselor to send us your official high school transcript (and school profile if they have one) or upload an unofficial high school transcript via the Supplemental Materials section of your Applicant Portal.
3. Test scores (optional).
   • Mines is a test-optional university. Your application will receive equal consideration in our holistic admissions and merit scholarship review process – with or without test scores. National research and Colorado-specific data show that test scores can be a limiting factor to students and unnecessary when making an admissions decision. If you believe test scores will further highlight your academic ability, you are welcome to include them in your application file.

   • We superscore both the ACT and SAT. That means we’ll combine your highest section scores across multiple test dates to give you the best possible composite score.

• Nov. 1 – Priority Application Deadline
  • If you apply by Nov. 1 and select “Early Action” on your application, you’ll receive an admission and merit scholarship decision by Dec. 15.
• Jan. 15 – Regular Application Deadline
  • If you applied by Jan. 15, we will notify you of our decisions regarding admissions and merit scholarships by Feb. 15.

After Jan. 15, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and admission is based on space availability.

The application fee is $50 for domestic applicants and $75 for international applicants.

• Common App: Mines accepts the Common App Fee Waiver, found within the Profile section of the application. Additionally, Mines has a school specific fee waiver for Veteran students.
• Golden App: A fee waiver eligibility question is found on the Acknowledgements page of the application. Complete the questions to determine if you are eligible. Fee is automatically waived for Veteran students.

Mines will accept the Common Application or the Golden Application, which is the Mines-specific online admission application.

You can choose to apply through either — there’s no preference.

Please note: we can’t review your application until we receive your high school transcript.

• Priority applicants may submit an unofficial transcript.
• Regular applicants must submit an official transcript.

Official high school transcript submission

Your high school counselor must submit your transcript in order for it to be considered official. Below are the steps to submit an official high school transcript.

• Sending your transcript electronically is the fastest method. We ask that your official transcript and high school profile only be sent once, either electronically or by one of the methods below. Sending duplicates will slow the processing of your application.
  Please allow 3-5 business days after your transcript is received by Mines for your Applicant Portal checklist to be updated.

• If you applied through the Common Application:
  • Assign your high school counselor under the Recommenders and FERPA tab for Colorado School of Mines (this will be auto-filled for you if your school uses Naviance)
  • Tell you counselor that you have submitted your application to Mines. They will then be able to upload your official transcript through the Common Application
• If you applied through the Golden Application:
  • By uploading through Slate.org.
  • By the electronic document service of your school’s choice, such as Parchment, SCOIR or National Student Clearinghouse.
  • By email: admissions@mines.edu.
  • By postal mail:
    Mines Admissions Office
    1812 Illinois Street
    Golden,CO 80401
  • By FAX: (303) 273-3509.
  • Assign your counselor in the Transcript section of the application. They will be emailed the information below on how to submit your official transcript.
  • Transcripts and other documents from your high school may be sent directly to Colorado School of Mines via the following methods:

Please note: Any college transcripts that are hand-delivered, even in a sealed envelope, are considered unofficial. Please have the college/university send your transcript(s) directly to our office in order for them to be considered official.

Unofficial high school transcript submission (Priority Applicants)

You can submit an unofficial high school transcript through the Transcript section of the Golden Application or via the Supplemental Materials section of your Applicant Portal. Log into your Applicant Portal, scroll down to the Supplemental Materials section, select “High School Transcript (Unofficial)” from the dropdown box and then click “Choose File” to find the file on your computer/device. Then click “Upload.”  You will see this document reflected in your Application Checklist when it’s uploaded and processed (1-3 business days).

No, your academic preparedness and strengths are all the recommendation we need! However, we will gladly accept letters and review them, if provided. These can be sent via the same method as your high school transcript. Please make sure your full name and birthdate are included so that we can get these matched to your application record. If your recommender provides you with the letter, you can upload it to your Applicant Portal.

To request a change to your application, email admissions@mines.edu with the information you’d like to update. Be sure to include your full name and birthdate so we can locate your record.

Schoolhouse.world was founded by Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, and provides free online tutoring as well as SAT prep and college admissions programs.

You can access tutoring to and demonstrate your knowledge of pre-calculus, calculus, chemistry, and physics in addition to other subjects. You can showcase your mastery in math and science through a portfolio, which you can upload to your applicant portal.

You can upload your portfolio as a PDF through the Mines applicant portal. It will be listed in a dropdown menu as "Schoolhouse.world Portfolio" and can then be attached to your application.

Your Schoolhouse.world portfolio will be reviewed as part of our holistic application review during the admission process.

Yes. Mines is a test-optional university. Your application will receive equal consideration in our holistic admissions and merit scholarship review process – with or without test scores. National research and Colorado-specific data show that test scores can be a limiting factor to students and unnecessary when making an admissions decision. If you believe test scores will further highlight your academic ability, you are welcome to include them in your application file.

Mines uses a holistic review process for both admission and merit scholarship consideration. We look at everything in your application file, including any optional materials you choose to submit — such as letters of recommendation, additional essays, resumes or personal statements.

Mines is a test-optional university. Your application will be reviewed the same way — with or without test scores — for both admission and merit scholarship consideration.

If you choose to submit scores, follow the instructions below.

• The easiest way to submit your ACT or SAT scores is to include them in your application. These scores will be reviewed as part of your admission decision.If you've been accepted and decide to enroll at Mines, you’ll need to request your official scores be sent from the testing agency. Any differences between your self-reported and official scores may result in your admission being rescinded.
• You can always request to have your scores sent electronically.
  • For ACT requests, our code is 0500
  • for SAT requests (via College Board), our code is 4073. Test scores on transcripts will not be reviewed.

Yes. If you choose to submit test scores, Mines will superscore the ACT and SAT. That means we’ll combine your highest section scores across multiple test dates to give you the strongest overall result.

If you think you can improve your score, it may be worth retaking the test. A higher score can boost your superscore, which we use when reviewing applicants for admission and merit scholarships.

All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships. These are primarily based on your unweighted GPA (on a 4.00 scale) and your highest submitted test score — if you choose to include one. If you don’t submit test scores, we’ll rely on your transcript alone.

If you do not take the ACT and/or SAT, the merit aid will be determined by your unweighted GPA only. If you take a test after you submitted your application and want them considered in your application review or you have a higher score you want to submit, please email admissions@mines.edu before Feb. 15 of your senior year to report those scores so we can evaluate if they impact any merit scholarship opportunities.

Yes. If you didn’t include test scores in your application and want them considered before your file is reviewed, you can still submit them.

You have two options:

• Upload up to three SAT or ACT score reports in your Applicant Portal

• Or email your self-reported scores to admissions@mines.edu

Be sure to include:

• Your full name

• Date of birth

• Test name and test date

• The following scores:

SAT

• Total score

• Evidence-based reading and writing

• Math

ACT

• Composite score

• English

• Math

• Reading

• Science

Mines is a test-optional university. You only need to submit SAT or ACT scores if you’d like them considered. To help decide, take a look at the “What Makes a Competitive Applicant” section on our First-Year Admissions page. If your scores are in line with those ranges, go ahead and submit them. If not, that’s okay — we’ll review your application holistically without test scores.

If you do submit scores, we use superscoring, which means we take your highest scores in each section across all test dates. So taking the SAT or ACT more than once — if available to you — can improve your overall score.

Any score you submit with your application will be considered.

No, Mines is not part of the WUE program. However, all applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply.

These awards can be combined with outside scholarships and, in many cases, make the cost of attending Mines competitive with WUE institutions.

See more scholarship information.

About 24 hours after you submit your application, you’ll receive an email with login information for your Applicant Portal. Once logged in, you can:

• Check which materials we’ve received

• Upload optional items like a resume or additional essay

• Pay your application fee (if applicable)

• View your admission decision and enrollment steps once available

If you didn’t receive your portal access email — or need it resent — email admissions@mines.edu and we’ll help you out.

When

• If your application is complete by the Nov. 1 Priority Deadline, you’ll receive an admission and merit scholarship decision by Dec. 15.

• If your application is complete between Nov. 2 and Jan. 15, you’ll receive a decision by Feb. 15.

• Applications completed after Jan. 15 are reviewed on a rolling basis, and decisions are made as space allows.

How

You’ll receive an email at the address you listed in your application. It will prompt you to log into your Applicant Portal, where you can click “View Update” to see your decision letter.

If you're accepted and live in the United States, we’ll also send you an acceptance packet by mail.

Admit: An offer of admission to Mines indicates the student has been fully admitted to Mines. An important reminder is that all offers of admission are based on continued academic excellence, and any grades below a B will be subject to an admissions re-review. See FAQs below for next steps once admitted to Mines. 

Conditional Admit: An offer of conditional admission indicates a student needs to participate in and pass Challenge, Mines’ summer bridge program. Challenge is a residential program held on the Mines campus from June 6 to July 8, 2026, and incorporates an introductory calculus course and an introductory chemistry course in addition to student, faculty and staff support.

Conditional Admit - International: This decision indicates a student needs to provide evidence of English language proficiency through a language test from the last two years with the following scores:

• A TOEFL internet-based score of 79 with the following minimum section scores: Reading - 20, Listening - 21, Speaking - 21, Writing - 17  
• An IELTS score of 6.5 with no band below a 6.0 
• A Duolingo score of 105 with no subscore below 100 
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency score of 176, with no skill below 169 
• Or an official passing ACT English score of 23 or SAT English score of 550 with completion of junior and senior years in a U.S. high school 

Move to Regular: A move to regular decision indicates the potential for success at Mines, yet the admissions review committee would like to see mid-year grades and/or a greater interest in attending Mines. Students receiving this decision need to submit the Regular Decision Interest Form by February 15 and will receive an admission decision by March 1, 2026. Students who do not complete the Regular Decision Interest Form will have their applications withdrawn.

Waitlist: A waitlist decision indicates a student has not been accepted to Mines because the current incoming class is full, but may be offered admission if a spot in the incoming class opens. Students on the waitlist can indicate their continued interest in Mines.

Deny: A deny decision indicates that admission to Mines as a first-year student is not being offered to the applicant. We understand that a denial is a difficult decision to receive, yet we want to emphasize that many students originally denied can still graduate from Mines via a transfer pathway. In addition to the Mines Academy partnerships at Red Rocks Community College, Front Range Community College, Arapahoe Community College, and Community College of Aurora, we accept transfer students from other two- and four-year colleges and universities. 

No, Mines does not offer or require interviews as part of the admission process.

However, we’d be happy to connect with you during a campus visit or at one of our recruitment events around the country. View our visit options here.

Home-schooled applicants are reviewed the same way as any other applicant. We take a holistic approach and consider all parts of your application.

If we have any questions about your coursework or academic background, we may reach out by email for clarification.

Admission to Mines is not binding. If you’re accepted, you have until May 1 (National College Decision Day) to accept or decline your offer.

Once accepted to Mines, students will have access to a virtual checklist inside of their Applicant Portal. This Oredigger Next Steps Checklist will include information regarding next steps, important deadlines and upcoming student events.

Prior to your first day of class we recommend that students check out their Oredigger Next Steps Checklist on their Mines Applicant Portal. Here they will find information about next steps, important deadlines and upcoming student events to help them jump into the new school year.