Skiing and snowboarding aren't just hobbies, its a lifestyle! For women who love spending winters on the ski slopes, selecting a university close to ski resorts is high priority! We've curated a list of the best colleges and universities for women who love skiing and snowboarding. These schools are close to mountain resorts and have the best skiing and snowboarding clubs and communities to meet your best friends for life.
Ready to do a full send into college and a find a skiing and snowboarding community you'll love? Explore the best colleges and universities for skiers and snowboarders!
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder is undoubtably one of the best colleges for skiers and snowboarders not only because of its close proximity to ski resorts, but because it has the biggest collegiate ski and snowboard club in the country. Boulder is close to ski resorts including Winter Park, Loveland, and Eldora being just 21 miles away from campus.
The CU Boulder Freeride club. Students have kept the ski and snowboard alive at Boulder since it was founded in 1933! The Boulder Freeride club hosts incredible events for students including a week-long ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in January 2025. The club also hosts snowboarding movie premieres and other events in the off season to keep the stoke alive for college students who love to ski and snowboard.
Westminster University
Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Westminster University is within striking range of 11 ski resorts, including some of the top skiing resorts in the country like Brighton and Park City.
Westminster University students who love to ski and snowboard can wax and tune up their skis and snowboards on campus at the Ski and Snowboard Collective. The university also has a ski and snowboard club.
Montana State University
Students of Montana State University who aren't already skiers and snowboarders may pick up new winter sports quickly with the nearest ski resort being just 20 minutes away from campus. Bridger Bowl is located just 20 minutes from the Montana State University campus in Bozeman, Montana.
The university has a fierce women's skiing team - ideal for students who are interested in skiing competitively. Skiers and snowboarders looking to join a recreational club have the MSU Freeride Ski and Snowboard Club.
University of Denver
The University of Denver is within close proximity to ski resorts like Winter Park, Keystone, Eldora, Loveland, and Arapahoe Basin, giving students plenty of mountains to explore on the weekends.
The University of Denver also has an Alpine Club catering to students who are outdoor enthusiasts. Alpine Club members get a season pass discount for Ikon Pass and Epic Local Pass and get access to ski buses that run from the campus to the ski resort.
University of Vermont
Vermont is arguably home to the best skiing on the East Coast. Prospective students who love skiing and snowboarding should consider the University of Vermont, located in Burlington. The closest ski resort is Bolton Valley, just 35 minutes away from campus.
Women skiers will be particularly stoked to join the University of Vermont women's ski club called Chicks on Sticks. Club members participate in events where they ski and socialize with other women with the potential to meet lifelong friends.
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado Mountain College has 11 campus locations in the Rocky Mountain for students to choose from. Students looking to work in snowsports industries, ski resort operations, outdoor recreation, or action sport industry for their careers can enroll in a program to get their education at Colorado Mountain.
With all of the skiers and snowboarders attending the college to get their industry education, it's only right that Colorado Mountain College also has a ski team, based out of its Steamboat Springs campus.
University of Nevada, Reno
There are plenty of students who love skiing and snowboarding attending the University of Nevada, Reno. The campus is located just an hour away from top destination ski resorts in beautiful Lake Tahoe. Students can drive to resorts like Heavenly, Diamond Peak, Northstar and Palisades.
The university has a Nevada Winter Sports Club for students to join and attend fun events that bring skiers and snowboarders together. The club coordinates carpools to the ski resorts, hosts competitions and provides students with discount codes to season passes including the Ikon Pass.
Colorado State University
Luckily for students of Colorado State University who are skiers and snowboarders, the campus is within close range to several ski resorts including Eldora, Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park, and Copper Mountain. There are plenty of outdoor recreation activities to enjoy in Fort Collins, Colorado, but of course the skiing and snowboarding in Colorado is top notch!
Colorado State University has a ski and snowboarding club called the CSU Snowriders. The club organizes ski and snowboard trips for student club members and hosts other snowsports events like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
University of Utah
The University of Utah has a highly competitive ski team with a reputation for taking home national championships. Located in Salt Lake City, the university is close to top ski resorts including Deer Valley, Snowbird, and Brighton.
University of Utah students can join the One Love Ski and Snowboard Club that welcomes skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. The club is an enthusiastic group that connects students with new friends to ride with and season pass discounts including Ikon Pass and Woodward Park City.
Cornell University
Students of Cornell University are under 30 minutes away from the nearest mountain resort for skiing and snowboarding. There are plenty of skiers and snowboarders who attend this university and ride the local mountain, Greek Peak.
The Cornell Alpine Ski Team welcomes students who are interested in skiing competitively. The ski team trains at Greek Peak Mountain and races with the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA). The Cornell Ski and Snowboard Club meets up at Greek Peak on the weekends to ski and snowboard recreationally, with bus and carpool options for students, as well as tailgating.
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University partners with Gogebic Community College to offer students a ski area business management program. Students interested in starting or continuing a career working for ski resorts can take courses in ski operations management, business operations, service and retail management, lift operations and more.
Students have the option to join the NMU Board and Ski Club, Nordic Ski Club, or Alpine Skiing, based on whether they want to compete or ski and ride recreationally.
Reed College
Located in Portland, Oregon, Reed College has Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood Meadows ski resorts just over 60 miles away from campus. Skiers and snowboarders love Reed College for its close access to the mountain and forest.
One perk that skiers and snowboarders will love is that Reed College has its own ski cabin! Located in Government Camp Village of Mt. Hood, students of Reed College can rent the ski cabin to stay close to the slopes. The cabin has 14 bunk beds and a sauna and fireplace to warm up after a long day on the mountain.
Western Washington University
College students can find their ski and snowboard community at Western Washington University where the stoke is alive! Located in Bellingham, the closest ski resort to the Western Washington University campus is Mt. Baker, which is about 60 miles away.
The WWU Ski and Snowboard Club takes students on trips to Mt. Hood Meadows and other ski resorts in the Pacific Northwest. The club also hosts events like ski and snowboard waxing workshops and movie nights where they watch footage of club members and films.
Colby College
Located in Waterville, Maine, Colby College is just an hour away from Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine's biggest ski resort. Colby has an alpine ski team, competing in NCAA Division 1.
The college has a Colby Outing Club that organizes events for students to explore the outdoors, including going skiing. Students who are skiers and snowboarders have plenty of outdoor recreation to explore in the offseason here, too.
SUNY Plattsburgh
Students of SUNY Plattsburgh who love skiing and snowboarding have 12 ski resorts in the area to explore. The closest mountain to campus is Beartown. Other ski resorts around Plattburgh include Whiteface, Gore Mountain, Titus Mountain, and Oak Mountain.
Plattsburgh State has a ski and snowboard club for students to join. Becoming a club member gets students access to events where they'll have opportunities to socialize with other students who love skiing and snowboarding.
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Skiway is located just minutes away from the Dartmouth College campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Students can catch a shuttle to the ski resort from the college campus - it doesn't get more convenient than that!
Students who love skiing can join the Dartmouth Club Ski Team where they can train, compete, and meet plenty of friends to ski with. Members get together for social events year-round, a great opportunity to make lifelong friendships with other skiers.
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