by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study mining and mineral engineering, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 9 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing mining and mineral engineering, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked mining and mineral engineering colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Missouri University of Science and Technology, our #1 mining and mineral engineering college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about mining and mineral engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University one of the top mining and mineral engineering colleges for veteran students. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the mining and mineral engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Veteran students seeking a strong mining and mineral engineering program will find one at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 86.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full mining and mineral engineering report for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
University of Kentucky is a great choice for veterans pursuing mining and mineral engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full mining and mineral engineering report for University of Kentucky
A rank of #5 makes Colorado School of Mines one of the top mining and mineral engineering colleges for veteran students. It scores 84.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about mining and mineral engineering at Colorado School of Mines
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University of Arizona landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing mining and mineral engineering. University of Arizona scores 78.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about mining and mineral engineering at University of Arizona
West Virginia University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best mining and mineral engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the mining and mineral engineering program at West Virginia University
University of Utah ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best mining and mineral engineering colleges for veterans. University of Utah scores 74.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about mining and mineral engineering at University of Utah
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology came in at #9 for veteran mining and mineral engineering students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 59.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about mining and mineral engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying mining and mineral engineering: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
