There are plenty of great colleges in the U.S., but those located near ski resorts should jump to the top of the list for any skier or rider. Considering the location, distance, and number of ski resorts in the area, here are the top six in no specific order.
The University of Vermont – Burlington, Vermont
The University of Vermont sits near Lake Champlain in picturesque Burlington, Vermont. The university’s enrollment consists of about 16,000 students and it offers over 100 majors. Not only does it have a vast selection of degrees, but also lies within easy grasp of a variety of slopes. Within an hour’s drive, you can visit five different ski areas.
- Smugglers’ Notch Resort
- Stowe Mountain Resort
- Bolton Valley Resort
- Mad River Glen (Skiers Only)
- Sugarbush Resort
The University of Utah – Salt Lake City, Utah
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The University of Utah is located in the bustling city of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake is going through a renaissance now, especially with the 2034 Winter Olympics on the horizon. With over 100 different majors to choose from and 38,260 students, you’re bound to meet your new best skiing and riding buddy. Salt Lake City is the ideal location. At the base of the Wasatch Range, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyon are easily accessible and home to some of the best mountains with, as Utah license plates boast, “The Greatest Snow On Earth.” Within an hour’s drive, eight ski resorts are at your fingertips.
function sbSubscribe() {
var email = document.getElementById(‘sb-email’).value;
if (!email || !email.includes(‘@’)) {
document.getElementById(‘sb-email’).style.borderColor = ‘#D7424E’;
return;
}
var url = ‘https://snowbrains.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=1f247afab0a546e393c022f9a&id=bcbf6caf6b&f_id=003bf2e0f0’;
var data = new FormData();
data.append(‘EMAIL’, email);
data.append(‘tags’, ‘2188762’);
data.append(‘b_1f247afab0a546e393c022f9a_bcbf6caf6b’, ”);
fetch(url, { method: ‘POST’, body: data, mode: ‘no-cors’ });
document.getElementById(‘sb-form-wrap’).style.display = ‘none’;
document.getElementById(‘sb-success’).style.display = ‘block’;
}
- Brighton Resort
- Solitude Mountain Resort
- Snowbasin Resort
- Snowbird
- Alta Ski Area (Skiers Only)
- Deer Valley Resort
- Park City Ski Resort
- Sundance Ski Resort
Montana State University – Bozeman, Montana
Montana State University has a student population of 17,165 students and over 250 majors, minors, and certificate programs. While it doesn’t boast the same bounty of nearby ski resorts as the previous two colleges, it offers high-quality options, including Montana’s slope with the highest vertical drop: Big Sky Resort. Also, Bridger Bowl Ski Area is located just 30 minutes north. There are a handful of great options, as the Bridger Bowl catchphrase goes, to “ski the cold smoke.”
University of Nevada, Reno – Reno, Nevada
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
University of Nevada, Reno, has a student population of 24,000 and offers 145 undergraduate degrees. Reno is a major city ideally located within a quick drive to several Lake Tahoe ski areas. Within an hour’s drive, you can access six different resorts. In just over an hour, you can access the mountain with the most vertical drop in California, Heavenly Mountain Resort.
- Mt. Rose
- Diamond Peak Ski Resort
- NorthStar California Resort
- Palisades Tahoe
- Boreal Mountain
- Heavenly Mountain Resort
University of Montana – Missoula, Montana
The University of Montana is on the state’s western side, in the northern Rocky Mountains. In addition, with more than 11,000 students, the university offers 250 majors, minors, and certificates. Within a half-hour drive, you can be on the slopes of Montana Snowbowl, or, for the more adventurous who don’t mind traveling additional miles for the best skiing, cross the border to Idaho, where Schweitzer Mountain’s uncrowded slopes await.
University of Colorado – Boulder, Colorado
One glimpse at the Flatirons, the sandstone formations on the foothills lining the University of Colorado, is enough to sell prospective students on its location. Nobody can question the scenic allure of Boulder, Colorado, especially the 39,000 students that attend university here. With more than 150 academic programs, CU-Boulder is one of the most coveted schools in Colorado. For skiers and riders, its proximity to the mountains is the clincher. Eldora Mountain Resort sits just 45 minutes away, and several others (hoping for smooth traveling on Interstate 70) lie within a two-hour drive.
These top six large schools are excellent for academics, skiing, and riding. Each college makes it even easier to get out and ride by offering ski and snowboard clubs with like-minded individuals. Ultimately, attending college can be financially stressful, so check out the local mountains for college discounts on day and season passes.