Mining Engineering Bachelor's Degree

Mining brings natural earth minerals to the surface. We can do this in a safe, efficient, and responsible way. Mining is necessary to meet societal and industrial needs and brings significant contributions to the economy.

Our goal is to engage in mining without causing undue disturbance to the environment. Modern mining employs sophisticated equipment methodologies to make mine operations productive, safe, and cheap. The industry needs intelligent, responsible, creative, and skillful practitioners to keep these goals.

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering degree program is to continue to improve and maintain quality undergraduate and graduate programs supported by an up-to-date curriculum and innovative research, and to produce technically competent mining engineers who possess team skills and are cognizant of the changing needs of an environmentally sensitive society.

The job responsibilities of mining engineers include:

  • designing layouts for both surface and underground mines
  • preparation of short- and long-range mine plans and production sequences
  • selection and scheduling of equipment
  • designing blast patterns for rock fragmentation and excavation
  • designing ventilation plans for underground mines
  • monitoring safety of personnel and equipment
  • optimizing processes
  • No. 13
    Best Public College for Engineering in America (Niche)
  • No. 2
    Best Public School for Internships (The Princeton Review)
  • No. 3
    Best Public College in the US for High Salaries (The Wall Street Journal)
  • No. 9
    for Career Placement (The Princeton Review)

Tomorrow Needs Innovation and Sustainability

Mining engineers plan, design, and supervise both surface and underground mining operations. Extraction needs to be safe and profitable. Market conditions can be difficult and the environment challenging. The creation of a sustainable mining operation must involve innovative decision-making.

To become good decision makers, mining engineers need sound technical expertise. They must exercise multi-disciplinary knowledge across the sciences. Mining engineers need practical experience as well as communication skills. It is critical to be able to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Be Career-Ready

Discover a world of opportunity. Graduate with a bachelor's degree in mining engineering. It will prepare you for a career in mining and aggregate industries or graduate study. Mining engineers work in all aspects of exploring, planning, extracting, and processing minerals.

Explore career opportunities for mining engineers.

  • Mining engineer
  • Mining geostatistician
  • Mine planning engineer
  • Mine manager
  • Consulting engineer
  • Mining company director
  • Mining law enforcement officer
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Graduate studies
  • Geotechnical engineer
  • Research and development

$55,481 mean entry-level salary
Figures from payscale.com, accessed April 2025.

Multidisciplinary Approach

The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences hosts the Mining Engineering degree program and collaborates with several engineering departments on campus.

Core Course Areas

  • Mining engineering
  • Geological engineering

Multidisciplinary Course Areas

  • Civil engineering
  • Environmental engineering
  • Chemical engineering
  • Mechanical engineering

Get a degree in mining engineering. Address the challenges of modern mining practices. Take on a leadership role in the mining industry. Michigan Technological University began life as the Michigan Mining School in Houghton back in 1885.

Emily Street is Connected to Mining

I am proud to be a student here, at what was originally the Michigan Mining School, and to be able to work as a miner in the industry that brought my family to the Keweenaw nearly one hundred years ago!

Emily Street
Emily Street
mining engineering

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying mining engineering at Michigan's flagship technological university.

 

Two people drilling inside a mine.
Michigan Tech's mining engineering program is one of only 13 such degree programs across the nation to earn ABET accreditation.
"ABET accreditation is a significant achievement. We have worked hard to ensure that our program meets the quality standards set by the profession"Aleksey Smirnov, professor and chair of geological and mining engineering sciences

The GMES Department

  • We provide advanced technology for your hands-on learning.
  • Our locale is Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, with its geological riches, rocky Lake Superior shoreline, and acres of forestland.
  • We offer field studies to classic and novel sites in Michigan and beyond.
  • Travel with our faculty to do research locally or abroad.
  • Practice communication and community involvement through geophysics, social geology, and mitigation of natural hazards.
  • Learn from faculty who understand the value of our Earth.

MTU engineering

Real Engineering. Meaningful Work.

Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering is committed to inspiring students, advancing knowledge, and innovating technological solutions to create a sustainable, just, and prosperous world. With an entering engineering class of about 1,000 students, 18 degrees to choose from, and 160+ engineering faculty alone, our students take part in a world-class education with the trusted reputation of Michigan Tech.

Collaborate and innovate as part of Michigan Tech’s discovery-based learning environment. Explore the endless possibilities of your engineering education in Engineering Fundamentals. Work closely with world-renowned faculty as a research assistant or develop real solutions with industry partners on an Enterprise team or Senior Design capstone project. 

Join the pack and find the support you need. Map your academic career with the help of an academic advisor. Transition to University life with the support of the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success or receive academic support in any of the Learning Centers across campus. 

Study abroad, with engineering opportunities ranging from a few weeks to a full year. Focus on problems facing disadvantaged communities in countries around the world. Michigan Tech’s Global and Community Engagement program offers a range of options.

A degree in engineering from Michigan Tech can take you anywhere. After graduating, 95 percent of our alumni find successful employment within six months. Tech engineers work at NASA, Whirlpool, General Motors, Dow, Lockheed Martin, and beyond. With multiple annual Career Fairs and one-on-one advising from Career Services, you can find an internship, co-op, or full-time job where your engineering expertise can make a difference.

Tomorrow Needs Every Engineer

Michigan Tech engineers are at the forefront of change. Using creative ideas and technologies to solve problems in healthcare, energy, transportation, space exploration, climate change, and beyond, Tech engineers are prepared to help people and their communities adapt toward an equitable future. Become an engineer who is ready for what tomorrow needs.

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Connected, innovative.

Build real skills at Michigan Tech. Become an engineer.

Gain diverse experience.

Engage in design and research.

Leap forward in your program.

Connect with students and industry.

"The other big change is keeping up with the technology. A lot of courses now will do modeling, mapping ore bodies and drill holes, things like that. We can get really accurate mapping of a mine and what we're going to be digging."Shawn vanDoorn, mining engineering alumna