Mining Engineering Graduates on the Rise

According to the 2015 SME Guide to Minerals and Materials Science Schools, 356 mining engineering degrees (BS, MS, Ph.D.) were awarded to students graduating from U.S. mining schools in 2014. The number of graduates from U.S. mining and mineral engineering programs has increased steadily since 2004, which experienced an all-time low of 54.

Mining is one of a handful of sectors that will add jobs at a fairly constant rate over the next 20 years. Although there has been a decline in the number of mining and mineral engineering programs at U.S. colleges and universities, there continues to be a noticeable increase in the number of graduates in those programs. The industry demand for qualified graduates to enter the workforce will only intensify as vacancies are created by current professionals reaching retirement age.

The 2015 SME Guide to Minerals and Materials Science Schools has proven to be an invaluable tool for mining companies and industry recruiters in evaluating the pipeline of qualified candidates to fill those vacancies. This unique SME publication contains essential information about U.S. schools of higher education with an engineering curriculum. Data includes specific programs, faculty, enrollment and degrees conferred for undergraduate and graduate programs.