Why do graduates of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn an average starting salary of more than $54,000?
In part because 80 percent of our graduates gain real-life experience through internships and co-ops. In fact, the effect of co-op and internship experience on starting salary offers is approximately $4,000.
So what's the big deal?
Co-ops and internships provide excellent opportunities for student to integrate their classroom learning with "real world" work experience in industry. Co-ops are often six to eight months in length (semester plus summer) and internships are usually for the summer or part-time during the school year. And the best part is the average salary our student receive from co-ops and internships is more than $15 per hour. Some employers even provide free housing and relocation expenses.
Co-ops and internships help students:
- Gain valuable work experience
- Earn money to finance their edcuation
- Confirm career choices
- Increase the chances for better job offers and compensation packages
- Develop communication skills important to career success
- Earn academic credit while applying classroom knowledge in the real world
This previous summer more than 113 employers in 27 states hired our students for co-ops or internships. The students:
- Helped design and test satellite communications equipment
- Designed road projects for the South Dakota Department of Transportation
- Helped commission and design international coal plants
- Worked for Bobcat, Rockwell Collins, John Deer, Cargill, Caterpillar, and others