Ski to your degree: We rank the top 10 colleges for skiers

College rules—big time. Out-of-this-world parties, gorgeous babes, no parents, spontaneous adventures and plenty of bad (good) decisions to be made along the way. Of course, you might learn a thing or two in the classroom, as well.

Here at FREESKIER, though, it’s our duty to inform you that while you’re hunting for your “perfect fit,” there is one thing, and one thing only, that should weigh heavy above all other factors—namely, how easily will you be able to go skiing at kick-ass resorts if you attend a certain school?

To aid you in your quest for higher shreducation, we’ve compiled a copious amount of data and plugged these numbers into an elaborate algorithm (crafted with the aid of one Christopher Steiner, of zrankings.com. Steiner was a staff writer at the Chicago Tribune and Forbes Magazine; he’s published two books including Automate This, which focuses on the power of algorithms.), that yielded a comprehensive list of the best colleges for skiers. If you’d like to see how the intricate algorithm breaks down, keep reading. If not, skip ahead to see the top ten colleges for skiers in our great nation.

The Scientific Method

We began with 30 schools and narrowed them down to the 10 best, based on 16 factors—each one weighted based on a carefully calculated order of importance.

We multiplied each of these factors’ percentage of its category’s maximum score by the category’s weight factor and summed the results. Head spinning yet? We then reset scores on a 0-99 basis, based again on percent of maximum. The top school scored a 99 according to these criteria. Some categories were scored in steps. For example, 18 nearby resorts isn’t twice as good as nine; so we awarded points based on different tiers: 2-3 resorts within 100 miles was 30 points, 4-5 resorts was 40 and so on to where all schools with 14 or more resorts within 100 miles received the maximum of 100 points. In the case of things like weed legality, we awarded 100 points to schools where you won’t be imprisoned for being at the right party and 0 points to schools where you may find your life diverted, away from skiing, by the state’s judicial system. At any rate, we began with thirty schools, and via this formula, devised a definitive list of the top 10 colleges for skiers.

Breaking It Down

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#10 — The University of Denver

The university’s Denver location gives students easy access to the I-70 corridor of ski areas and makes it a prime contender for this list. The University Ski Bus is a great option to get to the mountains on the weekend, easing the gas money burden on your wallet. In addition to all the awesome skiing in its backyard, DU’s ice hockey team is consistently one of the best in the nation. Go Pioneers!

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#09 — Western Washington University

The shores of Puget Sound, where this Pacific Northwest college is found, offer an ideal locale for powderhounds from all walks of life. Mt. Baker Ski Area, home to the highest average annual snowfall in the lower 48, is an hour to the east. There, skiers can enjoy some of the steepest inbounds terrain around and have easy access to the massive Mt. Baker backcountry, too.

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#08 — University of Nevada Reno

The University of Nevada Reno is a stone’s throw from the world class resorts of Lake Tahoe. Its closest resort, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, receives 350 inches of average annual snowfall and is home to Tahoe’s highest base elevation (8,260-feet) as well as a burly steep skiing zone called “The Chutes.” In addition to its proximity to the mountains, the city of Reno features a bevy of casinos for of age students to take advantage of.

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#07 — Gonzaga University

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#06 — Montana State University

MSU is located in Bozeman, Montana, at the foothills of the Bridger Mountains and just outside Yellowstone National Park. The college’s location provides easy access to nearby Bridger Bowl, which averages 350 inches of annual snowfall, as well as Big Sky/Moonlight which is one of the largest ski resorts in the US.

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#05 — University of Alaska at Anchorage

For most people, the word “Alaska” conjures up thoughts of razor edge spines, helicopters and steep descents. Now imagine going to college there. From Anchorage, Alyeska Resort’s 630 inches of average annual snowfall are a quick 40-mile drive away. And, if you’re really looking for a challenge, the Chugach Powder Guides heliskiing operation is also located in the town of Girdwood. Get it.

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#04 — Westminster College

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#03 — University of Colorado at Boulder

It’s no secret that the state of Colorado is ski-obsessed and its flagship university is no different. While the closest resort, Eldora, is located a short distance away, students also have easy access to the interstate and the plethora of ski resorts that inhabit the I-70 corridor. If you take into account the party hard Boulder mantra, CU is a no-brainer for the aspiring ski bum.

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#02 — Sierra Nevada College

Located on the shores of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nevada, Sierra Nevada College offers an education based upon skiing, literally. The private liberal arts university offers a B.S.B.A. in Ski Business and Resort Management with internship programs at nearby resorts like Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl and Northstar. Add in the abundant snowfall and shred crazy atmosphere of Lake Tahoe, and SNC is a certified ski bum college paradise.

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#01 — University of Utah

The University of Utah is the undisputed king of ski colleges. Located in Salt Lake City, almost every ski area in the state is located within 100-miles, each of which offer up Utah’s abundant, bone-dry snow. The closest resort—Snowbird—is a quick 16-mile drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon, so if you schedule your classes right, you can be nipple deep all morning and still make it back in time for Biology 101.