Colorado School of Mines is a prestigious public R1 research university specializing in science and engineering, with the most popular majors being mechanical engineering (321 degrees awarded in 2023), computer science (222 degrees), and chemical engineering (149 degrees). The university has been Colorado's premier engineering and applied science institution for 150 years, focused on producing talent, knowledge, and innovations to serve industry and benefit society. The 373-acre campus includes over a dozen academic and research buildings, athletic facilities, two student centers, a library, and eight residential halls located in historic downtown Golden. Golden is a historic community that hosts numerous arts, sports and music festivals, with restaurants, breweries, recreation outfitters, and hiking trails, nestled in the spectacular Clear Creek Valley surrounded by mountains and mesas just 13 miles west of Denver.