Begun in 1999, the Mountain West Conference is the youngest of the NCAA FBS Division I athletic conferences. Along with their athletic accomplishments, most MWC schools also excel in the classroom (the majority have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa). Admissions criteria vary widely, so be sure to click on the profile link to get average ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rates financial aid data and other info.
Compare the Mountain West schools: SAT chart | ACT chart
Explore other top conferences: ACC | Big East | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac 12 | SEC
Also be sure to visit the About.com guides for college football and basketball.
Boise State University
Edgar Zuniga Jr. / Flickr
Boise State University is made up of seven colleges with the College of Business and Economics being the most popular among undergraduates. Outdoor lovers with enjoy the school's location -- forests, desert, lakes and rivers are all within a short drive, and students will find many opportunities for hiking, fishing, kayaking and skiing.
- Location: Boise, Idaho
- School type: Public
- Enrollment: 18,933 (16,693 undergraduates)
- Team: Broncos
- For admissions and financial data, see the Boise State Profile
Colorado State University
ecopolitologist / Flickr
CSU has a stunning location at the base of the Rocky Mountains. High-achieving students should take a look at the university's Honors Program. Colorado State has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
- School type: Public
- Enrollment: 28,902 (22,221 undergraduates)
- Team: Rams
- For admissions and financial data, see the Colorado State University profile
San Diego State University
Allen Ferguson / Flickr
Part of the California State University System, San Diego State University is the third largest university in California. The college ranks highly for study abroad, and SDSU students have a choice of 190 study abroad programs. SDSU has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Location: San Diego, California
- School type: Public
- Enrollment: 32,817 (26,800 undergraduates)
- Team: Aztecs
- For admissions and financial data, see the San Diego State University profile
Texas Christian University
adamr.stone / Flickr
Texas Christian is strong academically -- the university has a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and the student-teacher interaction is valued highly. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, TCU was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Recent years have seen lots of campus construction, renovations and upgrades.
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
- School type: Private, Christian Church
- Enrollment: 8,853 (7,640 undergraduates)
- Team: Horned Frogs
- For admissions and financial data, see the Texas Christian profile
United States Air Force Academy
GretchenKoenig / Flickr
The USAFA is one of the 20 most selective colleges in the country. While all tuition and expenses are covered by the Academy, students do have a five-year active service requirement upon graduation.
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- School type: Military Academy
- Enrollment: 4,620 (all undergraduate)
- Team: Falcons
- For admissions and financial data, see the United States Air Force Academy profile
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
ericvaughn / Flickr
Stunning desert and mountains surround the 350-acre main campus of UNLV, and the university has been undergoing rapid expansion since it first opened in 1957. UNLV has a diverse student population and an 18 to 1 student / faculty ratio.
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- School type: Public
- Enrollment: 29,080 (22,734 undergraduates)
- Team: Rebels
- For admissions and financial data, see the UNLV profile
University of New Mexico
cjc4454 / Flickr
UNM has an attractive pueblo-style campus in the heart of Albuquerque. In academics, Business is the most popular major, but the University of New Mexico's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the school a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- School type: Public
- Enrollment: 27,241 (21,332 undergraduates)
- Team: Lobos
- For admissions and financial data, see the University of New Mexico profile
University of Wyoming
omnivoreceo / Flickr
The University of Wyoming is the smallest of the state universities in the Mountain West Conference, and it is also the only Bachelor-degree granting university in Wyoming. Tuition is a bargain for both in-state and out-of-state students, and the school's academic strengths earned it a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Location: Laramie, Wyoming
- School type: Public
- Enrollment: 12,427 (9,748 undergraduates)
- Team: Cowboys and Cowgirls
- For admissions and financial data, see the University of Wyoming profile
