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Mines Academy at ACC
Arapahoe Community College (ACC) is partnering with Colorado School of Mines to offer the opportunity to join Mines Academy at ACC. Creating a clear and economical path to earn a bachelor's degree from Mines, we'll help you plan and complete prescribed coursework that's designed to make your transition to Mines seamless. Along the way, you can earn an Associate of Engineering Science (AES) Degree—and can save more than $15,000 per year by registering for a full-time course schedule!
Want to join the Mines Academy? The first step is filling out the . Once we've verified your eligibility, you'll receive an email from Transfer Services that confirms your enrollment and includes the next steps to getting involved in Mines Academy.
Mines Academy Makes Your Transfer Easier
Mines Academy participants can earn transfer admission to Mines by completing the required core coursework, maintaining a certain GPA and participating in co-curricular events. Mines Academy is engineered to support your success, combining high-quality instruction with support services and valuable community connections. As a participant, you'll:
Gain Exposure to Colorado School of Mines
- Engage with Mines’ student success offices early and often, including Transfer Â鶹Դ´, Center for Academic Services and Advising, Financial Aid, and the Mines Career Center.
- Access to resources and events at Mines such as sporting events, career center, along with engaging with professional speakers and presentations.
- Engage with the campus culture prior to your transfer to ensure that Mines is the right fit before enrolling.
Be Better Connected at ACC
- Find support through resources like Advising & Transfer, TRIO Student Support Services (for first-generation students, those with limited income, and students with disabilities), Disability Accessibility Services, Tutoring & Learning Resources, STEM groups, and much more.
- Take high-quality math, science, and engineering courses at ACC with small faculty-student ratios.
- Be part of an engineering community with academic peers who support each other both at ACC and Mines. 
Eligibility & Next Steps
To be eligible for Mines Academy, students must meet the following requirements to complete the :
- Are currently enrolled as an ACC student and registered in classes
- Have declared AES degree (General Engineering preferred)
The Benefits of Mines Academy
There are only 4 community colleges within the state of Colorado that can provide you with a straight-forward transfer pathway to Colorado School of Mines. There are many benefits of joining Mines Academy at ACC:
- Large cost savings to earn your Associate of Engineering Science. You will save around $15,000 per year with a full-time schedule by taking classes at ACC!
- Complete your Associate of Engineering Science (AES) degree that encompasses credits that will be necessary for your bachelor’s degree at Colorado School of Mines.
- Transfer the credits you’ve completed with the AES to Colorado School of Mines seamlessly to get your associate and bachelor’s degree.
- Familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of Colorado School of Mines through on and off campus events or opportunities that are specific to community college students.
- Personalized assistance with a Transfer Â鶹Դ´ Counselor, along with a Mines Academy Portal to keep you in the loop and application up to date.
- Gain a network of future engineers at ACC and beyond.
Joining Mines Academy
It’s simple! Any active Arapahoe Community College student can join Mines Academy at any time. Select the Join Mines Academy button to complete the form to get started. Keep in mind, that you will need to upload your academic history for us to support you with your engineering transfer plans. The initial form will ask for a high school transcript / GED, any prior unofficial college transcripts, and Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate scores.
From there, you will get communications from Transfer Services, and you are in! Continue to monitor your student email within your myACC portal for any updates and upcoming events. As you progress through your coursework, you will officially be considered a transfer student once you have taken 12 credits at ACC after graduating high school to get into the Mines Academy pipeline.
Eligibility & Next Steps
Joining Mines Academy at ACC Requirements
- Active application with Arapahoe Community College (ACC)
- Enrolled in coursework at ACC
- Associate of Engineering Science Degree (general engineering AES preferred)Â
Need to apply to ACC? Apply through our online application. Connect with our Â鶹Դ´ team at admissions [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (admissions[at]arapahoe[dot]edu) if you need assistance with your application. Once you apply and declare the Associate of Engineering Science, you will receive an email with your student ID number (S#) and information to get started within our college. You can submit the form above to join Mines Academy once you have been given this information after your application.Â
Requirements for Seamless Transfer Â鶹Դ´
- Completed 12 or more college level credits after graduating from high school
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.25 or higher
- B or higher in the following core courses:
- MAT 2410: Calculus I
- MAT 2420: Calculus II
- CHE 1111: General College Chemistry with Lab
- PHY 2111: Calculus Based Physics I with Lab
- EGG 1040: Engineering Projects
- CSC 1060: Computer Science I Â
Not a Full Commitment to Mines — Free to Explore Options
Joining Mines Academy does not mean you are committing to Colorado School of Mines.
We understand that you may still be exploring your college options, and that’s okay! Mines Academy is designed to support your academic journey and help you make the best decision for your future —whether that’s Mines or another institution. You can reap the benefits of being involved within an engineering community while taking classes at ACC.
Transfer Credit Overview
ACC Credits
The Associate of Engineering Science will be the degree to support your transfer to Colorado School of Mines as it outlines their specific course requirements. In addition, there are lists of Ensure that you are working with your academic advisor to select your course options appropriately.
Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate
AP and IB scores can be accepted for credit; however, they must meet the Colorado School of Mines’ requirements in addition to the degree requirements at ACC. Please refer to the regarding AP, IB and other prior experiences.
CLEP Exams
Unfortunately, CLEP credit does not transfer to the Colorado School of Mines, as listed in their . Please consult with your advisor if you have questions about your degree progress.
Involvement at ACC for STEM
In addition to Mines Academy, there are different ways to get involved in what you love the most through clubs and student support services. View student club and organization options through our Student Life Office.
Clubs & Honors Societies
- ACC 3D Printing Club
- American Chemical Society
- Space Grant Teams
- Phi Theta Kappa
Advising & Transfer Events
- Annual Fall Transfer Fair
- Transfer Tuesdays
- Transfer Counselor Visits at ACC
- Engineering Group Advising
Complete our interest form to learn more about entering the Mines Academy at ACC.
