Colorado College vs Colorado School of Mines

Colorado College is the more selective of the two at 13%, versus 44% at Colorado School of Mines. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Colorado College
Highly selective
13%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1440
Private · Colorado
Colorado School of Mines
Selective
44%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1420
Public · Colorado

Colorado College vs Colorado School of Mines: the differences that matter

How Colorado College and Colorado School of Mines stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Colorado College is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 13% of applicants versus 44% at Colorado School of Mines, a gap of roughly 31 percentage points. Treat Colorado College as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. Colorado College leans more on application essay, recommendations, interview, while Colorado School of Mines puts more weight on a similar mix of factors. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Colorado College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1440 and Colorado School of Mines's is around 1420. Admitted students at Colorado College post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorColorado CollegeColorado School of Mines
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Standardized test scoresimportantimportant
Application essayvery importantconsidered
Recommendationsvery importantconsidered
Extracurricular activitiesimportantconsidered
Talent / abilityimportantconsidered
Character / personal qualitiesvery importantconsidered
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Colorado College or Colorado School of Mines harder to get into?

Colorado College is harder to get into, with a 13% acceptance rate versus 44% at Colorado School of Mines.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Colorado College and Colorado School of Mines?

Colorado College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1440, and Colorado School of Mines's is around 1420.

What are my chances at Colorado College and Colorado School of Mines?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.