Transferring to Mines

You are considered a first-year applicant if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Currently in high school or applying directly after high school graduation (including those with concurrent or dual enrollment college credits earned during high school) and have not attended a college or university afterward.
• Have graduated from high school with fewer than 12 college credits completed after graduation or obtaining your GED.
• Have earned a GED or been home-schooled, with fewer than 12 college credits completed after obtaining your GED or finishing homeschooling.

You are considered a transfer applicant if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Have graduated from high school, enrolled at a college or university, and have completed 12 or more college credits after graduation or obtaining your GED.
• Have already earned a Bachelor’s degree.

You are considered a returning student if you are a previous Mines student wishing to resume their studies at Mines. You can find more information on the Returning Mines Students page.

Fall Semester start: Required courses should be complete or in progress by February.

Spring Semester start: Required courses should be complete by early September. Fall term in-progress required courses will disqualify your Spring Semester application due to the timing of final grades being released.

Yes, all applicants must submit their official high school transcript upon admission to Mines. To be considered official, transcripts should be sent directly from your high school to the Office of Admissions.

For admission consideration, we will accept unofficial or official transcripts. Upon enrollment to Colorado School of Mines you must submit an official transcript. 

Official high school transcript submission:

Your high school must submit your transcript in order for it to be considered official.

• 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.

We accept the following methods for your official high school transcript:

• Through 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.

Official college transcript submission

Your college or university must send your transcript directly to Colorado School of Mines to be considered official.

We accept the following methods for your official college transcripts:

• Through the electronic document service of your school’s choice, such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse.
  • Note: Be sure to list  admissions@mines.edu as the recipient address.
• By postal mail:
  Mines Admissions Office
  1812 Illinois Street
  Golden,CO 80401

Remember: if you’re sending it electronically, please be sure to use admissions@mines.edu as the recipient email address.

You’ll be able to build your first fall or spring schedule at Mines. The registration process is guided by the transfer registration survey, which you’ll complete in your applicant portal to indicate courses you plan to take over the summer, desires to change your major, and more.

You’ll be able to make changes to your schedule as needed until the term begins. Not sure what you should take? Soon after registration opens, take advantage of scheduled walk-in sessions hosted by Mines Center for Academic Services & Advising (CASA). We’ll email you more details when the time comes!

CCCS and Aims CC Students: The majority of the Associate of Engineering Science courses articulated to Mines will meet the required core curriculum at Mines. All majors at Mines require the same core courses.

For a side-by-side comparison of the Mines core courses and CCCS equivalents, visit the Admissions CCCS page.

All transfer students: See core curriculum requirements at Mines. CSM 101 is waived for students with 30+ credits, CSM 202 is waived for students with 60+ credits, and Success and Wellness Elective is waived for students with 90+ credits. Engineering Economics is a core requirement that must be completed at Mines. Students have the option to meet Culture and Society 200-level core requirement by taking HASS 200 or transfer equivalent or take HASS 215 Futures at Mines. This option is in place until the entering class of Fall 2029.

Students can collect some informal information to understand how credits may transfer into Mines.

• General Transfer Course Requirements: To be eligible for an official transfer credit review, course work from domestic U.S. institutions must meet certain criteria. Review this page to learn more.
• Transfer Evaluation System (TES): This tool shows how previously reviewed courses from other accredited institutions have transferred to Mines. It’s a great starting point for assessing potential transfer credit, although unofficial.
• Preapproved Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Courses: This page outlines the CCCS courses which are preapproved to transfer into Mines alongside the Mines Core Curriculum.
• Mines Catalog: Review academic requirements specific to your desired major.

Officially Reviewing Credit at Mines

Official transfer credit evaluations are provided only after an applicant has applied to and been admitted to Mines. After an official transfer credit evaluation has been completed, results can be viewed by using the Degree Works tool in Trailhead.

To expedite the process, consider sending in your official transcripts showing completed coursework with final grades as soon as possible.

AP/IB credit is awarded only from test scores sent directly from College Board or IB. Credit cannot be awarded from another institution’s transcript.

• Information about how to send your AP scores is located on the CollegeBoard website 
• Information about how to send your IB scores is located on the International Baccalaureate website 

We do, however, encourage students who are from Colorado, currently attending a college or university in Colorado, or considering moving to Colorado to strongly consider transferring to a partnering school due to our articulated agreements and availability of guaranteed transferable and applicable coursework that is outlined.  Visit our Colorado Community College Transfer page to learn more!

Colorado School of Mines students pursue the same core curriculum, no matter which major they pursue. The AES degree is designed to ensure you’re completing courses that are directly fulfilling core curriculum requirements. To better understand how your current degree path might integrate with our core curriculum, review the Colorado Community College Transfer page. Specialized degrees are not guaranteed to meet major requirements.

If you’re still unsure about what to pursue or where to go from here, there are several ways we can help:

• Join one of our scheduled tours or events, which you can find at tour.mines.edu.
• Call our office at (303) 273-3220 or visit us in person at the Starzer Welcome Center located at 1812 Illinois St. Golden, CO 80401.
• Reach out to our Transfer Admissions Counselor for personalized guidance: admissions@mines.edu

• Fall Start:
  Kick off your Mines journey with Helluva Welcome, a fun and immersive orientation where you’ll have the option to spend 2 ½ days in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, making friends, and learning what it means to be an Oredigger. Back on campus, you’ll get connected with key campus resources like CASA and the Registrar for scheduling, the Health Center for immunization and insurance, Financial Aid, and the Bursar.
  You’ll even get to meet with departments during the Major and Resource Fair! Don’t forget – you’ll get to end the week and start your semester with the unforgettable M Climb tradition!
• Spring Start:
  Spring students enjoy a focused, one-day orientation packed with essential information, from Financial Aid and various majors, to academic advising with CASA. You’ll also meet fellow transfer and current students to help you feel right at home. Don’t worry—you’ll have the option to join the M Climb in the fall!
• Learn more about each orientation here.

• CSM 201: A course designed for incoming transfer students to explore essential resources at Mines and build a strong community with fellow transfers. The weekly classes focus on key topics and resources to support your transition. Through journal entries, a faculty research interview project, and personalized support, you’ll finish the course feeling more connected and well-equipped for success at Mines.
• Transfer Student Association: The Transfer Student Association (TSA) at Mines is a vibrant community dedicated to supporting and connecting transfer students. TSA offers a welcoming space to meet fellow transfers, share experiences, and get involved in campus life.

Clubs and Organizations:

You can find your place at Mines with the wide array of organizations to become involved in. Look at just a few options below.

• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
• Kickstart
• Mines Veteran’s Alliance
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (oSTEM)
• Society of Asian Scientist and Engineers (SASE)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
• And many, many more!

Campus Involvement/Resources:

The Mines campus offers resources you can connect with from day one or keep in your back pocket for future growth.

• Arthur Lakes Library
• CASA Tutoring
• Combined Programs at Mines
• Honors at Mines
• Lead @ Mines
• Join or support one of our Student Governing Bodies
• The Writing Center
• Undergraduate Research
• First-Year Innovation & Research Scholar Training: open for incoming transfer students!
• Wellness Promotion Programming

Tuition classification in Colorado is determined by state law, not by institutional policy.  We suggest visiting the tuition classification page to learn whether you may qualify for in-state residency status.

Note: The State of Colorado has signed several bills into law making it possible for qualified students to receive in-state residency status for tuition purposes at the time of admission. You may qualify for in-state tuition if you are an undocumented student, a member of a historic tribe, an active-duty military member stationed in Colorado or who lived in Colorado prior to enlistment, a Colorado National Guard member, or an honorably discharged veteran residing in Colorado. For more information and potential scenarios, please visit the tuition classification page and view the Special Exceptions section.

The Tuition Classification form will appear on your admissions portal once you’ve accepted your offer of admission and have placed your deposit to enroll. Residency is only changed if the student is in line with Colorado law. If your status is changed to resident, you will be notified, and your student record will be updated.