Kathy Mathieu, a mechanical engineering major from Brady, Neb. is on a
summer internship at Raven Industries. Mathieu is one of a majority of students
at Mines who undertake internships during their college career.
South Dakota
Mines graduates continue to enjoy a very high placement rate in their field of
study and an excellent starting salary. The most recent data, from the
graduating class of 2021, shows a 97% job placement rate in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) fields with an average annual starting
compensation of $68,685.
This data is part of why Mines is continually ranked among
the best universities in the country for return on investment. “Mines gives
our students the tools needed to advance the frontiers of innovation. Our
graduates work on the cutting edge of STEM. They are quick to become industry
leaders because they are proven problem solvers,” says Mines President Jim
Rankin.
Hands-on education and real-world experience with
ample internship opportunities are part of why Mines graduates do so well. A
majority of Mines students complete at least one internship in industry during
their college career and internship experience boosts both placement and
starting salary. The placement rate for those with internship experience is
99.6% with a starting salary of $71,491.
Industry demand for more women in STEM may have
helped drive up the starting salary for female graduates in 2021. Women
graduates from Mines are now earning average starting pay of $70,215 compared
to their male counterparts with $68,115. Women at Mines also did internships at
a higher rate than male students, which may add to the higher starting salary.
Traditionally women have been underrepresented
in many STEM fields and often paid less than their male counterparts. Mines
has engaged in a long-term effort to meet industry demand for more women by
providing opportunities
for everyone with programs like Women in
Science and Engineering (WiSE).
The demand for graduates with a strong background in
STEM is expected to grow in the coming years in both South Dakota and
nationwide. Mines 2021 graduates are employed by 178 different companies in 33
different states. Many Mines students choose to remain in the state after
graduation; 139 graduates from the class of 2021 are working or attending
graduate school in South Dakota. They are located in 17 different South Dakota
cities working for 51 different companies. A recent list of the highest
paying jobs in the local area put Mines degrees among the top 20 in annual
salary. This data underlies the high return on investment a degree from Mines
brings.