Some Frequently Asked Questions
Q:  What is the difference between the Mining Engineering and Management degree and a traditional Mining Engineering degree?
A:  Quite a few, really.

First of all, it should be clearly understood that the Mining Engineering and Management program will be an accredited mining engineering degree program. The difference between the MEM degree program and other mining engineering programs is that the MEM program will also be accredited in Engineering Management. Students majoring in Mining Engineering and Management will graduate as mining engineers with a strong background in management concepts. This management background will better prepare the mining engineering graduate for a career directed towards mine management.

The major difference is that the Mining Engineering and Management graduate will have a head start over his/her peers from other schools in the mine management track. Most mines, be they large, small, or somewhere in between, are managed by mining engineers. Not only at the upper, or general mine management level, but also at the department level.
Q:  What will someone who graduates in Mining Engineering and Management do?
A:  Upon graduation he/she will likely do pretty much the same thing as mining engineering graduates from any other mining school—that is, he/she will likely start out as a junior engineer or junior-level supervisor for a mining company. The new graduate may do computer-aided mine design, project engineering, supervision of mine labor, mine equipment selection and optimization, drill and blast supervision, production planning, or any number of other jobs in a mining environment.
Q:  Are there jobs available for graduates? What companies hire the graduates? Normally, where will the graduates work? What are the starting salaries?
A:  Yes, there are more excellent jobs available to graduates than there are graduates to fill them. Currently, there are 13 colleges or universities offering degrees in mining engineering. In 2003, there were only about 110 mining engineering graduates nationwide in the U.S (Kliche, Survey of Mining Schools, 2003). Starting salaries nationwide for the graduates averaged over $44,000 (Sawyer, Placement/Salary Summary 02-03 Graduates, 2003) with SDSM&T Mining Engineering graduates averaging $48,600 for starting salaries.

There are hundreds of companies, not all of which are mining companies, that hire mining engineering graduates. Some of them include:

  • Coal Mining—Peabody Energy, Arch Coal, Kennecott Energy, CONSOL, BHP Billiton, North American Coal, RAG-American

  • Iron Mining—USX Corp., EVTAC, Cleveland-Cliffs International

  • Copper Mining—Phelps-Dodge, ASARCO, BHP Billiton

  • Gold Mining—Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Placer Dome, Newmont Mining, AngloGold, Getchell Gold, Round Mountain Gold,

  • Silver, Platinum and Base Metals—Doe Run, Coeur Rochester, Hecla, Stillwater Mining

  • Stone and Aggregates—Martin-Marietta, Vulcan Minerals, Granite Construction, Pete Lien and Sons, Sweetman Construction, Engelhard Corp.

  • Mining Equipment and Products—Hitachi, Ingersoll-Rand, Austin International, Dyno-Nobel, Caterpillar, Nelson Brothers

  • Consulting and Mining Software—Maptek, Agapito, Washington Group, Golder Associates, Re/Spec



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    Q:  What will it cost me to go to college at SDSM&T?
    A:  On the average, it will cost a South Dakota resident student less than $8000 per year if he/she lives on campus and takes meals in the student union. This cost will increase to about $12,600 per year for non-residents (except Minnesota residents and WUE* exchange students) and foreign students.
    Tuition Category Undergraduate
    Rate/Cr. Hr.         		Graduate
    Rate/Cr. Hr.
    SD Resident $72.10 $109.40
    SD Non-Resident $229.15 $322.45
    Western Undergrad Exchange (WUE*) $108.15 N/A
    Adjacent State (AY01) $172.30 N/A
    Adjacent State (AY02) $108.15 N/A
    Minnesota Reciprocity $94.00 $168.35
    SD Employee & SD Teacher Certification $36.05 $54.71
    ROTC and National Guard $36.05 N/A
    Students 65 years of age or older $18.00 $27.35
    Graduate Assistant N/A $36.50
    Self Support Classes-Outside Sioux Falls $163.00 $215.80
    Self Support Classes-Remedial $111.40 N/A


    *

    In addition to South Dakota, the WUE or Western Undergraduate Exchange states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
    Residence Hall Fees
    Double Occupancy $812.60/semester
    Single Occupancy $1,083.80/semester
    ITS Res. Hall Network Fee $100.00/academic year
    Refrigerator Rental Charge $1.00-$3.50/week


    Campus Dining Meal Plans
    Platinum PLUS $967.83/semester
    Gold PLUS $967.83/semester
    Silver PLUS $967.83/semester
    Copper PLUS $694.96/semester
    Bronze PLUS $546.77/semester
    Titanium $738.91/semester
    Commuter Plans $50-$199.99


    Miscellaneous Fees
    General Activities Fee $18.10/cr. hr.
    International Student Fee $108.00 (one-time assessment)
    Laboratory Course Fee $22.80/lab
    Optional Student Health Insurance Call for amount
    Salary Enhancement Fee (PIF) $16.85/cr. hr.
    University Support Fee $52.90/cr. hr.
    Application Fee (Undergraduate) $20.00


    Q: 

    Are scholarships available?
    A:  Yes. Students with an ACT score of 30 or above will qualify for a $2,500 scholarship from SDSM&T. Students with lower ACT scores will be eligible for scholarships of $1,000 to $1,500 from the MEM program.

    Other scholarships are available from professional organizations such as the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME); the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE); the Copper Club; and the Rock Mountain Coal Association. These scholarships are awarded to successful applicants based upon scholarship, need and career objectives.