Office of the President
Welcome to the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology!
Founded in 1885, the School of Mines prepares leaders in science and engineering for the challenges of the twenty-first century at a cost families can afford.
Heather Wilson, DPhil
President,
South Dakota School of
Mines & Technology
From geology and mining engineering to particle physics and atmospheric science, our graduates are in high demand. They have a sound foundation in their profession and most have real world experience to make them highly competitive for the best paying jobs in America. Ninety-six percent of our undergraduates have a job or a place in graduate school upon graduation at an average starting salary of $62,696. That's better than Harvard. And, on average, our graduates start their professional careers less than $25,000 in college loan debt.
Mines offers demanding, hands on education with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students are known and closely mentored by their professors, and over 90 percent of them have valuable internship, co-op, or undergraduate research experience.
The School of Mines is also an important economic engine for the State of South Dakota. We conduct research and partner with the community to strengthen economic development in the Black Hills.
Driven by the Mines 2020: Strategic Vision and Plan, we're forging an ambitious path forward. We are increasing enrollment to 3,500 students; sustaining placement rates of 96 percent or higher; increasing annual research awards to $50 million; and recruiting and retaining exceptional faculty and staff.
If you want to prepare yourself for a life of leadership in science and engineering, if you want great education at a school that will know your name, come to Mines. Your legacy starts here.