U.S. News & World Report has named the University of Montana one of the nation's best colleges for winter enthusiasts.
On a day when the Garden City awoke to four inches of fresh snow, maybe the news comes as no surprise to Missoulians.
UM is accompanied by seven other schools including the University of Colorado - Boulder, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Middlebury College in Vermont and Sierra Nevada College near Lake Tahoe.
U.S. News & World Report, which releases college rankings on everything from the cost of tuition to student demographics, recognized UM for its "dogsled races, downhill skiing and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling all within a short distance of campus," wrote Ryan Lytle, the magazine's education web producer.
The write up also touts Missoula's New Year's Eve celebration, "First Night Missoula," a drug-free event involving music, dance, crafts, comedy and an ice sculpture competition.
"We've known for quite some time that many students cite that they love the opportunities for winter sports at all levels from backcountry skiing to our wonderful ski areas around here," said Jed Liston, UM's assistant vice president of enrollment. "That's a factor for (students) coming here."
It's not the only reason, however.
A student's attraction to all outdoor opportunities here is often one of many factors considered when choosing a college, he said. Academics are an equally important factor when choosing where to go to school.
So, while UM is honored to receive such accolades, Liston said students won't decide on a school based off a college rankings list.
"As people look at this list, it develops name recognition," he said. "The students out there saying, ‘I love winter sports,' they'll find that list. And they'll bounce that list off the other things they're looking for. The college selection process is very multi-faceted."
Students' outdoor interests in Missoula go far beyond just winter sports.
"Like many of us in Missoula, students snowboard in the winter and kayak in the summer," Liston said. "The nice thing about our location and western Montana is all of that is accessible. We have a lot of students that do all outdoor sports."
All, perhaps, but human dogsled racing, which is noted in the article as an event celebrated at Dartmouth College.
To view the entire list of colleges for winter enthusiasts, go to http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/best-colleges-for-winter-enthusiasts/5. There's an opportunity at the end of the slideshow to vote for the best college for winter enthusiasts.
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