There are many great colleges close to some of the best snow around for ski bums and snowboarders to enjoy outside of class!
Can’t get enough of the snow? Love skiing, snowboarding, and tubing? Whether you live in Florida away from the cold or you hate to leave your nearby ski resort, college presents the perfect opportunity to advance your education and keep up with your favorite hobbies during your downtime. Here are colleges within an hour of some of the best skiing, plus three honorable mentions for all you ski bums and snowboarders.
Great New England Colleges for Ski Bums
New England is certainly known for its snow. Maine sees between 60 to 110 inches of snow inland and 50 to 70 inches along the coast each year on average. Next door, New Hampshire’s Concord averages just under 68 inches per year, while Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, gets over 280 inches.
Plus, New England has plenty of unique experiences for skiers and snowboarders, from backcountry and off-trail skiing to a chute where you can see the ocean. If you can’t forgo winter sports, here are some colleges to consider in New England:
1. MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
- Location: Middlebury, Vermont
- Enrollment: 2,843
- Acceptance Rate: 10%
- Closest Skiing: Middlebury Snow Bowl (23 minutes)
Nearby Middlebury Snow Bowl features 28 skiing trails over 110 acres, and even offers night skiing Wednesday through Friday. On campus, Middlebury College Panthers compete in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and hockey. And, since 1986, Middlebury February graduates participate in the Ski Down, where they ski down a trail at the Snow Bowl dressed in their caps and gowns.
2. DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
- Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
- Enrollment: 6,744
- Acceptance Rate: 6.3%
- Closest Skiing: Dartmouth Skiway (20 minutes)
Dartmouth Skiway is home to nearly 30 trails and a Snow Sports School for adults if you’re new to skiing and snowboarding. For over 100 years, Dartmouth College’s Winter Carnival has celebrated winter and the school’s sport teams. Some of the planned events and available activities include a figure skating exhibition, free lift tickets to Skiway, poster printing, and a Broomball tourney.
3. COLBY COLLEGE
- Location: Waterville, Maine
- Enrollment: 2,299
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Closest Skiing: Quarry Road Trails (5 minutes)
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Colby College operated a ski hill – and its use dated back to the 1930’s. However, after it closed in the ‘70’s, the ski hill went unused – until Quarry Road Trails reopened the slope. Today, Colby College’s alpine ski team uses Sugarloaf Mountain, located just an hour away from the school.
4. UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON
- Location: Farmington, Maine
- Enrollment: 1,837
- Acceptance Rate: 97.9%
- Closest Skiing: Titcomb Mountain (7 minutes)
The University of Maine at Farmington is central to several ski resorts, trail systems, lakes, and more. Their Mainly Outdoors program focuses on a number of outdoor adventures, from skiing to snowshoeing, and offers lessons, certifications, equipment rentals, and more. Titcomb Mountain offers free ski passes and lessons to students.
5. UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
- Location: Burlington, Vermont
- Enrollment: 14,088
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Closest Skiing: Bolton Valley Resort (35 minutes)
Bolton Valley Resort is the closest ski resort to the University of Vermont, but Stowe, referred to as the “Ski Capital of the East,” is just over 40 minutes away. Ski and Snowboard Club members can access discounted student passes to a number of local mountains. There are also clubs and sports teams if you’re interested in ice hockey, figure skating, free skiing, and more.
Best Colleges for Skiers and Snowboarders in the Mid-East
Several colleges and universities throughout the Mid-East are centrally located to ski resorts, particularly in New York, which has the most ski areas in the country. Rochester to the west typically sees between 70 to 120 inches of snow each year, while Plattsburgh to the north gets just over 60 inches a year.
As you go further south along the coast, snow and ski resorts are less common, but the entire area is well-acquainted with winter.
6. UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- Location: Rochester, New York
- Enrollment: 12,197
- Acceptance Rate: 36%
- Closest Skiing: Bristol Mountain (48 minutes)
Students participate in everything from skiing to snow carving and sledding to ice skating at the University of Rochester. Bristol Mountain, with a 1,200’ vertical rise, has nearly 40 slopes and trails over 138 acres of skiable terrain. Students may find Bristol expensive, but Swain Ski Resort can be a more affordable option for just 13 more minutes of driving.
7. SUNY PLATTSBURGH
- Location: Plattsburgh, New York
- Enrollment: 4,474
- Acceptance Rate: 75.2%
- Closest Skiing: Beartown Ski Area (16 minutes)
If you’re new to skiing and attending SUNY Plattsburgh, plan a trip to the Beartown Ski Area for affordable lessons. This ski area is small, however, so you’ll also want to plan a trip to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort just over an hour away. There’s 94 trails on site, with a good mix for experts, intermediates, and beginners.
8. CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- Location: Ithaca, New York
- Enrollment: 25,898
- Acceptance Rate: 8.5%
- Closest Skiing: Greek Peak Mountain Resort (25 minutes)
One of the top universities in the country, Cornell University is the perfect place to get an outstanding education and be able to hit the slopes on your downtime. Greek Peak Mountain Resort, the largest ski resort in Central New York, has 44 ski trails, 11 glades, an indoor waterpark, spa, and more. On campus, you can watch or play hockey, ice skate, or go sledding.
Best Colleges for Ski Bums in the Rocky Mountain Region
The Rocky Mountain region is well known for astounding landscapes, consistent snowfall, and thrilling terrain. Aspen, Colorado, gets 179 inches of snow each year on average. Boulder’s snow season, from October to May, receives about 89 inches. Head north to Utah, and you’re entering the state that touts “the best snow on earth,” according to their license plates.
9. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
- Location: Provo, Utah
- Enrollment: 34,464
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Closest Skiing: Sundance (20 minutes)
Brigham Young University is close to a number of ski resorts, but the closest (and most affordable) is Sundance. Even if you don’t want to buy a season pass, there’s discounted rates available. The mountain resort is also home to a ski and snowboard school, a Nordic center, terrain park, and more.
10. COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE – ASPEN
- Location: Aspen, Colorado
- Enrollment: 5,184
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Closest Skiing: Buttermilk (4 minutes)
Colorado Mountain College is a community college based in Glenwood Springs, with a campus located in Aspen near several ski resorts. You only need one lift ticket to explore Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk. The school itself is home to a ski team that competes in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA), a Division I conference.
11. UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Enrollment: 13,734
- Acceptance Rate: 71.2%
- Closest Skiing: Echo Mountain (56 minutes)
The University of Denver has won more National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) national team skiing championships than any other school at 24. Snow starts falling in early October, and students can visit the campus’s ice rinks, head to Echo Mountain if you’re an intermediate skier, or plan a trip to one of the many other nearby ski resorts, from Copper Mountain to Winter Park.
12. MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
- Location: Bozeman, Montana
- Enrollment: 16,681
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Closest Skiing: Bridger Bowl (29 minutes)
Winter (or any season for that matter) in Bozeman, Montana, is an adventure, from skiing at Bridger Bowl to ice fishing at Hyalite Reservoir. Big Sky Resort has over 6,000 acres for skiing and 300 ski runs. For students who love winter sports, Montana State University has several club and competitive teams.
13. UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA – RENO
- Location: Reno, Nevada
- Enrollment: 20,945
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Closest Skiing: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe (32 minutes)
You might not think of “snow” when it comes to Nevada, but you just have to head over the border to California to access some amazing skiing (and sights) thanks to Lake Tahoe. The University of Nevada – Reno even offers Winter Excursion Weekends, with skiing at Diamond Peak, snowshoeing, and more – all for an affordable price.
14. UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Enrollment: 34,734
- Acceptance Rate: 87.4%
- Closest Skiing: Solitude Mountain Resort (32 minutes)
The University of Utah is close to several mountain resorts, including Solitude, Alta, Snowbird, and Brighton – all within 40 minutes. Students can even take advantage of discounts on lift passes, or head over to Utah Olympic Park in Park City, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The school has won 15 NCAA Skiing Championships.
15. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO – BOULDER
- Location: Boulder, Colorado
- Enrollment: 39,585
- Acceptance Rate: 83.1%
- Closest Skiing: Eldora Ski Resort (36 minutes)
Eldora Ski Resort is the closest ski area to the University of Colorado – Boulder, but Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Winter Park are all within two hours. Competing as a Division I team, the Buffaloes have won 20 NCAA Skiing Championships, placing them in second behind the University of Denver’s 24.
Other Great Schools for Winter Lovers
Of course, winter and skiing isn’t limited to the regions above! Here are some other schools to check out if you love the cold, skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
16. UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA – ANCHORAGE
- Location: Anchorage, Alaska
- Enrollment: 10,464
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Closest Skiing: Alyeska Resort (49 minutes)
You already, most likely, think of snow when you think of Alaska, and the Alyeska Resort near the University of Alaska (Anchorage) is home to over 1,600 skiable acres and 76 named trails. The school itself has teams for skiing and hockey. Their alpine skiers head to Mount Alyeska, while Nordic skiers use the city’s trail system.
17. SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY – TAOS
- Location: Fort Burgwin, New Mexico
- Enrollment: 12,053
- Acceptance Rate: 61.6%
- Closest Skiing: Sipapu Ski Resort (36 minutes)
Southern Methodist University’s main campus is found in University Park, Texas, but they have a campus right in New Mexico. But New Mexico and snow? It’s true! Sipapu Ski Resort has more than 40 trails. The school even offers J-term classes on winter sports – participating students receive free lift passes to Taos Ski Valley, just 45 minutes away, lessons, and gear.
18. GOGEBIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
- Location: Ironwood, Michigan
- Enrollment: 837
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Closest Skiing: Mt. Zion Recreational Complex (On Campus)
Gogebic Community College is the only school on this list with skiing available right on campus. Mt. Zion is perfect for alpine, cross-country, snowboarding, and tubing. There are 10 slopes and trails, gear rentals, and lessons available. The school also has an associate’s Ski Area Management program for students.
19. LEES-MCRAE COLLEGE
- Location: Banner Elk, North Carolina
- Enrollment: 855
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Closest Skiing: Beech Mountain Resort (10 minutes)
When it comes to North Carolina, you’re likely thinking of colleges near the beach rather than colleges near awesome skiing. But the state has both! Skiing and snowboarding was just introduced as a varsity sport at Lees-McRae College. Athletes train at Beech Mountain, which offers year-round activities.
20. NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
- Location: Marquette, Michigan
- Enrollment: 6,970
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Closest Skiing: Marquette Mountain Ski Area (9 minutes)
Northern Michigan University is home to Nordic and alpine ski teams and a board and ski club. They even jointly offer Gogebic Community College’s Ski Area Management program. Marquette Mountain Ski Area features opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and night skiing on 25 trails.
Honorable Mentions
These three schools are close to ski resorts, but they’ll take more than an hour drive to get to.
Colorado State University – Fort Collins
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
- Enrollment: 33,403
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- CSU’s teams train at nearby Eldora Mountain Resort, just under two hours away from the campus. The school also offers students transportation to various ski resorts for a small fee.
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Enrollment: 1,534
- Acceptance Rate: 27%
- Reed College is about an hour and 40 minutes from Mount Hood, which offers some amazing opportunities for winter sports. The school even has its own unique ski cabin on Mount Hood available to rent.
- Location: Bellingham, Washington
- Enrollment: 14,747
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Students attending Western Washington University can head to Mount Baker (80 minutes) for discounted season passes, snowmobile trails, skiing, snowshoeing, and more. The area is also well known for its sail boating, birdwatching, and paddling.
You don’t have to give up skiing and snowboarding while you earn your degree. These 20+ schools are worth a look if you love winter sports. Want to explore more? Use College Raptor’s College Match to find other colleges and universities perfect for ski lovers!
