Two of the Snowiest College Campuses are in Colorado

Aspiring students consider a lot of different things before selecting a college to attend. Whether it's a school's sports teams, cost, availability of academic courses, general location, or something else, there are many varying factors that go into the big decision.

Some college students are seeking a change in environment, which could mean moving across the country where the weather is very different than home. For example, folks from all over the nation choose to make their way to Colorado for college, knowing they will get to experience all four seasons - including cold and snowy winters.

Colleges with cold climates are appealing to many.

A recent study by Best Colleges, collected data to determine the top 10 snowiest colleges in the country. To get their rankings, Best Colleges included schools that receive at least 50 inches of snow annually, have student populations of at least 15,000, and offer fun winter activities for learners. All snowfall data came from the National Centers for Environmental Information.

With an average annual snowfall of 118 inches, Syracuse University topped the list.

Fortunately for students who love winter, two of the snowiest college campuses can be found in Colorado.

CU Boulder landed at number three on the list.

Boulder receives an average annual snowfall of 90 inches. For students who want to get active, the university’s rec center rents out snow shoes and winter hiking boots. It also houses the town’s only ice rink. Boulder's parks offer several great sledding hills as well.

With an average snowfall of 60 inches each winter, Colorado State University came in at number 7 on the rankings. CSU encourages its students to take full advantage of the winter weather. Students can ice skate on the rink in Old Town or head to the frozen Sheldon Lake in City Park. The Snowriders student organization welcomes members who enjoy skiing and snowboarding and those who want to learn new winter sports. Plus, many students enjoy snowy hikes in the mountains surrounding Fort Collins.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the University of Utah rounded out the rankings for top 10 snowiest schools.