It's an oft-asked and Googled question: I'm a skier. Where should I go to college?
The list of answers is well-established at this point, but skiing's bigger than the Northeast and the Mountain West.
Surprising states like Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and West Virginia have skiing and educational opportunities. So, in the spirit of spreading the love and expanding the collegiate skiing experience conversation, we've compiled a list of ten colleges (in no particular order) that might not come to mind when you first start punching in those Google searches.
1. West Virginia University
Snowshoe Mountain Resort, WV is the region's largest and snowiest ski resort.
Sure, West Virginia University won't put you near a big mountain skiing mecca like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming. Still, it's a quick drive away from Wisp Resort, which offers 172 acres of skiable terrain, and Seven Springs Mountain Resort, where freeskier Tom Wallisch cut his teeth.
If you're keen on a longer weekend trip, Snowshoe Mountain Resort is an option, too. West Virginia University boasts a racing team for those seeking an organized way to meet like-minded folks.
2. Michigan Technological University
Mont Ripley is owned by MTU. Campus and the town of Houghton can be seen below.
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Nearby ski areas: Mont Ripley, Mt. Bohemia
Located on the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Technological University has easy access to Mt. Bohemia, a legendary hill known for its deep lake effect snow and off-the-beaten-path status. Michigan Technological University also has its own ski hill, Mont Ripley , located five minutes from campus by car. In Houghton, Michigan, there's more than one way to get your skiing fix.
3. University of Montana
The University of Montana with snowcapped peaks rising in the background. Montana Snowbowl is just a quick drive from campus.
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Nearby ski areas: Montana Snowbowl, Discovery Ski Area, Lost Trail Ski Area
Missoula, Montana, home to the University of Montana, isn't a ski town in the traditional sense of the term. Here, you won't find an enormous ski area with gondolas and a ritzy base lodge, and, depending on the year, the snow can be a bit iffy. But when the getting's good, it's good .
Montana Snowbowl, Discovery Ski Area, and Lost Trail Ski Area are all sleepy nearby resorts that offer a break from the frenetic pace of America's mega ski areas. As an added bonus, river fanatics will find plenty to do in Missoula once the snow melts. There's a reason Norman Maclean wrote A River Runs Through It.
4. University of Nevada Las Vegas
Lee Canyon sits at a base elevation of 8,510 feet above sea level. High enough for plenty of snow to fall throughout the winter.
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Nearby ski areas: Lee Canyon
Las Vegas is more than slot machines and enormous spheres. Climbing, hiking, biking, and, yes, skiing are also part of the deal. Lee Canyon, a speedy 45 minute jaunt from the city, has 195 acres of lift-served skiing.
At 129 inches, the resort's snowfall average doesn't rival heavy hitters in Wyoming and Colorado, but storms still stop by. Last winter, Lee Canyon had an epic March.
5. Northern Arizona University
The towering San Francisco Peaks as seen from an aerial view of Flagstaff, Arizona.
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Nearby ski areas: Arizona Snowbowl
Near Flagstaff, Arizona Snowbowl holds it down as a solid local ski area that's committed to late-season skiing. During the winter of 2023 and 2024, Arizona Snowbowl spun the lifts into June , beating out numerous snowier and larger ski resorts that had called it quits much earlier.
Without a crystal ball, it's tough to say if Arizona Snowbowl will execute a repeat performance next winter—weather is fickle, after all—but we respect the gumption.
6. Boise State University
The snow-covered slopes of Bogus Basin with downtown Boise, Idaho in the background.
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Nearby ski areas: Bogus Basin
Despite Idaho flying a bit under the radar in the wide world of skiing—aside from Sun Valley, of course—the state's home to numerous resorts and backcountry zones. At Boise State University, you can take advantage of it all.
Bogus Basin, the nation's largest non-profit recreation area, is less than an hour's drive from Boise. And there are loads more to choose from if you have a long weekend or don't mind sitting in the car longer, including Tamarack Resort, Soldier Mountain, and Brundage Mountain Resort.
7. University of New Mexico
The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway rises 3,819 feet to reach Sandia Peak Ski Area and other recreational opportunities just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Nearby ski areas: Sandia Peak Ski Area, Ski Santa Fe
Like Arizona and Nevada, New Mexico is known popularly as a desert. That depiction isn't necessarily wrong—much of New Mexico is arid—but the state has ten ski areas, some of which are day trip-able from Albuquerque's University of New Mexico. Sandia Peak Ski Area is the closest to town and is a member of the Power Pass, which offers access to numerous resorts across the Southwest.
This way, you can make Sandia Peak your home base while still retaining access to other options further afield, like Purgatory, Brian Head Resort, and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. Head to Taos when the getting is good.
8. Appalachian State University
Snow covered Sugar Mountain, North Carolina. The resort tops out at 5,300 feet above sea level.
Appalachian State University in North Carolina has numerous nearby ski areas. Sugar Mountain, Appalachian Ski Mtn., and Beech Mountain Resort are all within a 50-minute drive. Of these three, Appalachian Ski Mtn. is the closest.
Of every college on this list, Appalachian State University might be the ultimate underdog—you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who considers North Carolina a skiing destination, but that doesn't mean you should count Appalachian State University out. Studying 15 minutes from a ski area is a real luxury when the coursework starts to pile up.
9. University of Wisconsin-Madison
An aerial view of the small but might Tyrol Basin, Wisconsin.
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Nearby ski areas: Tyrol Basin, Devil's Head Resort, Cascade Mountain
Wisconsin is known for cheese, beer, bratwursts, and a thriving low-key ski scene composed of numerous small areas. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, there are three primary places to get your turns in: Tyrol Basin, Devil's Head Resort, and Cascade Mountain.
All three mountains offer daily night skiing and discounts for students. Meaning the only thing keeping you from skiing endless park laps on a daily basis is your willingness to do so.
Come for the cheese curds, and stay for the skiing.
10. University of Portland
The Palmer Snowfield on Mt. Hood, Oregon is known for holding snow throughout the summer.
East of Portland, Oregon, stands Mt. Hood, which is surrounded by a cluster of ski areas like Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood Meadows, and Mt. Hood Skibowl. Getting to the Mt. Hood area from Portland is a bit of a hike, but not too far to nix the possibility of a weekend day trip.
And, when summer arrives, Timberline Lodge keeps the lifts spinning, making the University of Portland one of a few colleges with nearby skiing available during the warmer months.
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