3. University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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Seattle
Money rank: 56 (tie)
Distance to nearest ski area: 53 miles (Summit at Snoqualmie)
It rarely snows on the UW campus, and its elevation is nil. Yet, this top-ranked school is an ideal base camp for accessing jaw-dropping terrain in the nearby Cascade Mountains. Students who join the school's Husky Winter Sports club can become certified ski or snowboard instructors, and teach at a non-profit school at Snoqualmie Summit. About 90 miles from campus, Crystal Mountain is the state’s largest ski area, with a whopping 2,600 acres of skiable terrain and nearly 400 inches of average annual snowfall.
Average early career earnings: $51,900
Read more about the University of Washington-Seattle Campus.