In this article, the author discusses how Wyoming converts its mineral wealth into educational prosperity and economic diversity. Historically, higher education has not always been emphasized in this state's frontier culture, partly because residents with only a high-school diploma can often snag well-paying jobs extracting methane gas from coal beds and driving trucks for natural-resource companies. However, through the strength of its mineral industries, including the tapping of its coal, oil, and natural gas, the state is using millions of dollars reaped from its mineral industries to improve its public university and community colleges and has set up new programs to improve educational quality and to encourage more students to go to college. The University of Wyoming, the state's sole four-year institution, and the seven community colleges have received many budget increases of more than 10 percent over the past several years.