By Nick Selbe
The following article is provided by Graphiq and StartClass.
Temperatures are beginning to drop, and for some people, happiness is a fresh layer of powder and a lift ticket. Ski resorts figure to start getting crowded as we move further into the coldest time of the year, and proximity to runs couldn’t be more vital.
Despite claims of stressful finals season and difficult term papers, young adults will never have more free time than during their college years. For this reason, it is imperative for skiers and snowboarders currently in high school to choose a school that has plenty to offer on the slopes.
With that in mind, StartClass set out to find the 25 best colleges for skiers and snowboarders in America. We looked at various rankings from different publications — including Teton Gravity Research and Freeskier — to find the 25 most popular school selections. We then compiled a variety of data to go along with each listing, including:
- The distance from campus to a nearby or well-known ski resort
- Whether the school is a member of the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association
- The average amount of snowfall the ski resort receives each year
- The distance between the summit and base of the tallest mountain at the ski resort
- The total area of skiable acres within the boundaries of the ski resort
The schools on the list were selected based on their popularity with skiers and snowboarders, their proximity to mountains and ski resorts, and whether they have well-known ski teams. Because academics always come first, the colleges are ranked according to their Smart Rating. The Smart Rating scores each college on a 0-100 scale in order to rate the overall quality and is determined based on the following factors: financial affordability, career readiness, admissions selectivity, expert opinion and academic excellence.
Any 18-year-old with a list of colleges to choose from has plenty of options to consider. If access to the mountains ranks high on the priority list, these schools are worth a closer look.
#25. University of Alaska Anchorage
Smart Rating: 80
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Alyeska
Distance to resort: 28.4 miles
Average snowfall: 650 inches
Summit: 2,500 feet
Skiable acres: 1,610 acres
#24. Western State Colorado University
Smart Rating: 80
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Distance to resort: 23.9 miles
Average snowfall: 300 inches
Summit: 3,062 feet
Skiable acres: 1,547 acres
#23. Champlain College
Smart Rating: 80
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Stowe Mountain
Distance to resort: 20.8 miles
Average snowfall: 333 inches
Summit: 2,160 feet
Skiable acres: 485 acres
#22. The College of Idaho
Smart Rating: 80
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Bogus Basin
Distance to resort: 23.5 miles
Average snowfall: 250 inches
Summit: 1,800 feet
Skiable acres: 2,600 acres
#21. Colorado Mesa University
Smart Rating: 81
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Powderhorn
Distance to resort: 21.6 miles
Average snowfall: 250 inches
Summit: 1,800 feet
Skiable acres: 600 acres
#20. Fort Lewis College
Smart Rating: 81
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Purgatory
Distance to resort: 0.6 miles
Average snowfall: 260 inches
Summit: 2,029 feet
Skiable acres: 1,360 acres
#19. Plymouth State University
Smart Rating: 81
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Waterville Valley
Distance to resort: 16.4 miles
Average snowfall: 148 inches
Summit: 2,020 feet
Skiable acres: 250 acres
#18. The University of Montana
Smart Rating: 82
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Marshall Mountain
Distance to resort: 5.4 miles
Average snowfall: 150 inches
Summit: 1,500 feet
Skiable acres: 400 acres
#17. Western Washington University
Smart Rating: 86
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Mt. Baker
Distance to resort: 26.2 miles
Average snowfall: 647 inches
Summit: 1,500 feet
Skiable acres: 1,000 acres
#16. Montana State University
Smart Rating: 86
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Bridger Bowl
Distance to resort: 13.1 miles
Average snowfall: 350 inches
Summit: 2,600 feet
Skiable acres: 2,000 acres
#15. Westminster College
Smart Rating: 87
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Park City
Distance to resort: 15.9 miles
Average snowfall: 355 inches
Summit: 3,200 feet
Skiable acres: 7,200 acres
#14. University of Nevada-Reno
Smart Rating: 88
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Distance to resort: 15.9 miles
Average snowfall: 350 inches
Summit: 1,800 feet
Skiable acres: 1,200 acres
#13. University of Utah
Smart Rating: 89
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Park City
Distance to resort: 16.0 miles
Average snowfall: 355 inches
Summit: 3,200 feet
Skiable acres: 7,200 acres
#12. University of Colorado Boulder
Smart Rating: 90
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Eldora Mountain Resort
Distance to resort: 17.4 miles
Average snowfall: 300 inches
Summit: 1,600 feet
Skiable acres: 680 acres
#11. Reed College
Smart Rating: 91
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Mount Hood SkiBowl
Distance to resort: 43.4 miles
Average snowfall: 300 inches
Summit: 1,500 feet
Skiable acres: 960 acres
#10. University of Vermont
Smart Rating: 93
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Stowe Mountain
Distance to resort: 20.4 miles
Average snowfall: 333 inches
Summit: 2,160 feet
Skiable acres: 485 acres
#9. University of Denver
Smart Rating: 93
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Eldora Mountain Resort
Distance to resort: 37.4 miles
Average snowfall: 300 inches
Summit: 1,600 feet
Skiable acres: 680 acres
#8. Colorado School of Mines
Smart Rating: 93
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Eldora Mountain Resort
Distance to resort: 22.9 miles
Average snowfall: 300 inches
Summit: 1,600 feet
Skiable acres: 680 acres
#7. Gonzaga University
Smart Rating: 93
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Mt. Spokane
Distance to resort: 22.7 miles
Average snowfall: 100 inches
Summit: 2,000 feet
Skiable acres: 1,000 acres
#6. St. Lawrence University
Smart Rating: 95
USCSA member: No
Nearby resort: Big Tupper
Distance to resort: 42.6 miles
Average snowfall: N/A
Summit: 1,151 feet
Skiable acres: N/A
#5. University of Washington-Seattle
Smart Rating: 95
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: The Summit at Snoqualmie
Distance to resort: 44.4 miles
Average snowfall: 435 inches
Summit: 2,280 feet
Skiable acres: 1,981 acres
#4. Colorado College
Smart Rating: 95
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Arapahoe Basin
Distance to resort: 78.5 miles
Average snowfall: 350 inches
Summit: 2,270 feet
Skiable acres: 900 acres
#3. Colby College
Smart Rating: 95
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Sugarloaf
Distance to resort: 46.2 miles
Average snowfall: 200 inches
Summit: 2,437 feet
Skiable acres: 1,153 acres
#2. Middlebury College
Smart Rating: 96
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Middlebury College Snow Bowl
Distance to resort: On campus
Average snowfall: 130 inches
Summit: 1,050 feet
Skiable acres: 120 acres
#1. Dartmouth College
Smart Rating: 97
USCSA member: Yes
Nearby resort: Dartmouth Skiway
Distance to resort: 1.7 miles
Average snowfall: 100 inches
Summit: 988 feet
Skiable acres: 107 acres
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