The 15 Best Colleges for Skiing and Winter Sports

Colleges in or near ski towns across the U.S. offer ample opportunities for winter fun, from Alpine and Nordic skiing to snowboarding.

Here, we rank the best colleges for skiing and other winter sports throughout the country. To make this list, we looked primarily at average annual snowfall and proximity to popular ski resorts. Keep reading to discover the best colleges near ski resorts, from Oregon to Vermont.

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Aspen averages 179 inches of snow annually and offers exceptional terrain for winter sports. Right near Colorado Mountain College Aspen — a community college offering associate degrees and some bachelor’s degrees — you’ll find an abundance of ski resorts, including the Buttermilk Ski Resort.

Peak winter ski season lasts from December through February.

Sierra Nevada University is just 2 miles away from Diamond Peak Resort and other popular snowboarding mountains. The area receives an average annual snowfall of 138 inches, and the season runs mid-December through early March. Most resorts here offer discounted college passes, too.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

In the 2020-21 winter season, Rochester, New York, received 69.6 inches of snow. A highly ranked private institution, the University of Rochester is one of the best colleges near snowboarding mountains, including the popular Bristol Mountain. Ski season runs from late November through early April — and it can get crowded.

The University of Alaska Anchorage welcomes an average yearly snowfall of 79 inches. It’s also home to a ski team. Daylight hours during ski season stretch from an average of 7.5 hours a day in December to a whopping 16 hours a day in April.

SUNY Plattsburgh is less than an hour from Whiteface Mountain, which has an annual snowfall average of 190 inches. Students can get college ski passes with discounted tickets for the season from November through April. The biggest crowds arrive in December, so be prepared if you’re heading there at this time of year.

Brigham Young University is a private college located in the small ski town of Provo. Students can drive to one of 15 ski resorts within two hours, including Alta Ski Resort, Deer Valley, and Brighton. While Provo averages an annual snowfall of 58 inches, Alta Ski Resort receives a staggering 547 inches per year.

The city of Middlebury averages 68.97 inches of snow each year. The Snow Bowl, Middlebury College’s historic ski area, features three chairlifts, 17 trails, and a lodge. Ski season typically lasts from November to April.

Hanover averages around 68 inches of snow annually. Dartmouth College, a prestigious Ivy League school, maintains its own ski resort called Dartmouth Skiway, which provides college ski passes to more than 100 acres. Since reopening for business on Dec. 28, 2021, the college ski resort reported a 15% increase in season pass sales.

Taos averages 37 inches of snow each year, with plenty of opportunities for skiing and snowboarding. Sipapu Ski Resort, which is just 14 miles from Southern Methodist University’s Taos campus, features over 40 trails and five lifts from mid-December through early April. Students enrolled in mountain sports can even get free lift tickets.

Located about a mile from Colby College, Quarry Road Recreational Area provides 7 miles of trails for the Colby Nordic ski team. With an average annual snowfall of around 71 inches, Waterville is an ideal setting to engage in winter sports.

Based in the Rocky Mountains, Bozeman — home to Montana State University — averages 72.5 inches of snow each year. Ski season typically runs from Thanksgiving through mid-April. Around 50 miles from MSU lies Big Sky Resort, which offers 5,850 skiable areas.

Idaho State University sits near a dozen ski destinations, including the Pebble Creek Ski Area on Mount Bonneville. The resort averages 225 inches of snow each year. ISU provides an annual two-day ski swap with college ski pass discounts for Pebble Creek and Bogus Basin.

Lake Tahoe, California, boasts eight ski resorts, including Squaw Valley, which is located about 40 minutes away from the University of Nevada, Reno. While Reno typically gets an average of 22 inches of snow each year, Lake Tahoe has seen record-breaking snowfall in recent years.

With an average annual snowfall of almost 54 inches, Salt Lake City offers something for every snow-loving student. University of Utah students can get discounted college ski passes for lift tickets at many nearby ski resorts. Expect large crowds in January and February.

A top liberal arts college, Reed College offers a variety of athletics, fitness, and outdoor programs. The institution also owns and operates a ski cabin on Mount Hood — perfect for college winter break trips. Mount Hood typically receives up to 100 inches of snow annually.

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