Highlights
- Top U.S. universities are pioneering rare earth and critical mineral extraction technologies from diverse sources like coal waste and mine tailings.
- Academic research centers are developing sustainable, environmentally friendly methods to recover valuable minerals while addressing legacy pollution.
- Universities are training the next generation of engineers and scientists to rebuild America’s critical mineral supply chain and support national technological independence.
In the race to rebuild the U.S. rare earth and critical mineral supply chain, America’s mining universities are stepping up—and fast. From mine-to-magnet innovation to turning coal waste into clean tech metals, these academic powerhouses are training the next generation of engineers and delivering real-world breakthroughs. Here’s a high-impact roundup of the top universities leading the charge. We also note the critical importance of America’s community colleges and private universities for vocational programs.
Colorado School of Mines (Golden, CO) (opens in a new tab)
Widely regarded as the global leader in mining and extractive metallurgy, Mines is ground zero for rare earth research. It was a founding member of the Department of Energy’s Critical Materials Institute (CMI) and hosts elite centers like the Kroll Institute and Center for Mineral Resources Science. The school partners with Peru’s UNSA on rare earth sustainability and trains mineral economists, engineers, and metallurgists driving U.S. supply chain security.
University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) (opens in a new tab)
UArizona’s School of Mining & Mineral Resources blends engineering, geology, and sustainability into one transdisciplinary powerhouse. With institutions like the Lowell Institute and Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining, Arizona tackles everything from copper to lithium to REEs. Their tailings research and industry partnerships make them a Western hub for clean mining innovation.
Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA) (opens in a new tab)
Virginia Tech is making rare earths from coal a reality. Home to the Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST), VT has secured major DOE funding to extract REEs from coal refuse and acid mine drainage. Professors Aaron Noble and Roe-Hoan Yoon lead cutting-edge recovery tech. In 2025, Tech was tapped to lead the $10M Expand Appalachia initiative to harvest critical minerals from coal country waste.
Penn State University (University Park, PA) (opens in a new tab)
The Center for Critical Minerals (C²M) at Penn State brings together mining engineers, geoscientists, and materials scientists to recover REEs from waste streams and Appalachian coal deposits. With back-to-back DOE grants and the CANARY initiative mapping rare earths in coal waste, Penn State is a leader in bridging research and commercialization.
University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) (opens in a new tab)
Kentucky is transforming coal into clean tech gold. With a DOE-funded pilot plant producing REE concentrates from coal waste, UK’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) is driving innovations in REE, cobalt, and lithium recovery. A recent $5M infrastructure law grant is fueling a scalable REE refinery from Kentucky coal.
West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV) (opens in a new tab)
WVU’s breakthrough? Extracting rare earths from acid mine drainage—while cleaning up legacy pollution. The West Virginia Water Research Institute is running a pilot plant that pulls valuable REEs out of contaminated streams, funded by an $8M DOE award. It’s a model for turning environmental liabilities into national assets.
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, MO) (opens in a new tab)
With 150+ years of mining legacy, Missouri S&T now hosts the federally backed Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) hub. Its O’Keefe Institute focuses on extracting REEs and cobalt from tailings and mine waste, bringing critical mineral recovery tech to the Midwest with industrial and policy collaboration at its core.
University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) (opens in a new tab)
Utah is pioneering green rare earth chemistry. Researchers recently won DARPA and DOE grants to produce 99%+ pure REEs without toxic solvents, using coal byproducts and mine wastes. With ties to Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Mine, Utah is pushing sustainable, high-purity mineral refining from lab to pilot scale.
South Dakota Mines (Rapid City, SD) (opens in a new tab)
With new minors in Critical Minerals and the 2025 launch of the Nucor Mineral Industries Building, South Dakota Mines is rebuilding mining education for the 21st century. Faculty collaborate with DoD on rare earth extraction, lithium traceability, and workforce training in defense-relevant minerals.
Montana Tech (Butte, MT) (opens in a new tab)
From the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology to the Center for Advanced Materials Processing, Montana Tech is reactivating rare earth prospects and coal ash resources. Professors Jerome Downey and Ron White are developing novel extraction flowsheets with support from the U.S. Army and DOE.
University of Nevada, Reno (Reno, NV) (opens in a new tab)
UNR’s Mackay School of Mines is in the heart of the lithium boom. With new labs and $4.5M+ in research funding, it’s partnering with Lithium Americas and MP Materials to lead REE recovery and battery metal R&D. Faculty are innovating flotation and processing of clays, tailings, and REE-bearing ores.
Final Word
The U.S. critical mineral revival runs through its universities. These schools are not only rebuilding the workforce—they’re rebuilding the tech. From acid mine drainage to magnet-grade oxides, they’re helping the U.S. regain control of its rare earth destiny. And they’re doing it fast.
Note also that America’s community colleges will be the tip of the arrow, as suggested by Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (opens in a new tab) in a recent interview with Rare Earth Exchanges.
© 2025 Rare Earth Exchanges™
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