Campus Points of Interest

Aerial view of campus
Welcome to South Dakota Mines! Whether you're a future student, proud parent, visiting scholar, or just exploring all our vibrant campus has to offer, this is your guide to discovering what makes Mines truly exceptional.

Campus Map (PDF)    Interactive Map    Parking Map (PDF)

Awards

South Dakota Mines continues its tradition of excellence by being named one of the 2025–2026 Colleges of Distinction in categories including Engineering, Career Development, Military Support, and International Education.


 

Serious About Success. Passionate About Fun.

Discover the best of campus life through our unique points of interest—where curiosity, creativity, and community come together.
Apex Gallery
Student Life
Rocker Shop Bookstore
Museum of Geology
Athletics
KETQ

 

At South Dakota Mines, innovation meets impact.

Our community of forward-thinkers is shaping the future with cutting-edge research, hands-on learning, and a commitment to excellence. Here are many reasons why we stand out. 
An Academic Powerhouse
  • Top-Tier Education: Consistently ranked among the nation’s best engineering schools.
  • High ROI: Our grads enjoy top starting salaries, with 97% employed or in grad school within six months.
  • Small Classes, Big Opportunities: A 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized mentorship from expert faculty.
Research that Matters
  • Game-Changing Research: From renewable energy to space exploration, we’re solving global challenges.
  • Industry Connections: Our partnerships with leading companies ensure our research is practical and forward-thinking.
  • World-Class Facilities: Home to cutting-edge labs and centers like the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).
Hands-On Learning
  • Real-World Experience: Internships, co-ops, and fieldwork prepare students to hit the ground running.
  • Capstone and Senior Design Projects: Senior projects tackle real-world industry challenges.
  • Tech-Forward Campus: Students have access to advanced equipment and facilities to fuel innovation.
Leaders in Action
  • Service and Outreach: Our students give back through thousands of community service hours each year.
  • Leadership Development: From student organizations to mentorship programs, we build future leaders.
  • Global Reach: Study abroad and international partnerships provide our students with a global edge.

Strong Outcomes

For the past four years, College Factual named South Dakota Mines the best engineering school for the money out of 323 similar schools in the U.S. Our graduates work for state agencies, small businesses, and powerhouse companies such as Google, Garmin, Northrop Grumman, Microsoft, NASA, and Amazon.

Placement and Compensation


  • 97% of graduating students were placed in their field in positions across 40 states, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany with an average starting salary of $77,067.
  • 66% of students complete an internship or co-op and earn on average nearly $10,000 more for their starting salaries than students who did not complete an internship or co-op.

Top Hiring Companies for AY24 Graduates:

  • Collins Aerospace
  • Raytheon Technologies
  • Aagard
  • KLJ
  • Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
  • Kiewit
  • Nucor
  • Caterpillar
  • Innovative Systems
  • Hecla Mining Company

 

Accolades and Honors

We’re proud to be considered a world-class STEM university in the United States. Explore the awards and numerous high rankings we have received over the years.
Prestigious Awards
  • Fulbright Scholars: David LaPorte, 2016; Broc Kokesh, 2018 
  • Goldwater Scholars:  Andrew Farke (2003); Jesse Hinricher (2015); William Trevillyan (2018); and William Jackson “Jack” Carpenter (2019) 
  • 2x NCAA Google Academic All-American: Justin Barkow (2017 & 2018)
  • First place in Governor’s Giant Vision Business Competition, Student Division: (2015-2020 & 2022)
  • South Dakota Mines Professor SD Entrepreneur of the Year (2018)
University Rankings