Mount West Conference: Learn About the 11 Member Universities

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

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Boise State University

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: 23,854 (20,186 undergraduates)
Team: Broncos
GPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Boise State
For admissions and financial data, see the Boise State Profile.

Colorado State University

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: 31,856 (25,177 undergraduates)
Team: Rams
GPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Colorado State
For admissions and financial data, see the Colorado State University profile.

Fresno State University

Fresno State, one of the 23 Cal State schools, sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The school's well-respected Craig School of Business is popular among students, and Business Administration has the highest undergraduate enrollment of all majors. High achieving students should look into the Smittcamp Honors College which offers excellent scholarships.

Location: Fresno, California
School type: Public
Enrollment: 24,405 (21,530 undergraduates)
Team: Bulldogs
GPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for Fresno State
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Fresno State profile.

Western Athletic Conference

By Allen Grove

San Diego State University

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: 34,688 (29,860 undergraduates)
Team: Aztecs
Explore the Campus: SDSU Photo Tour
GPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for San Diego State
For admissions and financial data, see the San Diego State University profile.

San Jose State University

San Jose State University, one of the 23 Cal State schools, offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in 134 fields. Business administration is the most popular major among undergraduates, but communications studies, engineering and art are also strong. The school's Silicon Valley location provides many opportunities for students in technical and professional fields.

Location: San Jose, California
School type: Public
Enrollment: 32,154 (26,432 undergraduates)
Team: Spartans
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the San Jose State University profile.

United States Air Force Academy

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: 4,237 (all undergraduate)
Team: Falcons
GPA, SAT Score and ACT Score Graph for USAFA
For admissions and financial data, see the United States Air Force Academy profile.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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: 29,702 (24,714 undergraduates)
Team: Rebels
For admissions and financial data, see the UNLV profile.

University of Nevada at Reno

UNR offers over 75 bachelor's degree programs. The university is made up of numerous schools and colleges. Business, journalism, biology, health sciences and engineering are all popular among undergraduates. The city of Reno sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Lake Tahoe is just 45 minutes away.

Location: Reno, Nevada
School type: Public
Enrollment: 21,353 (18,191 undergraduates)
Team: Wolf Pack
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Nevada at Reno profile.

University of New Mexico

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: 26,999 (21,023 undergraduates)
Team: Lobos
For admissions and financial data, see the University of New Mexico profile.

University of Wyoming

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: 12,366 (9,788 undergraduates)
Team: Cowboys and Cowgirls
For admissions and financial data, see the University of Wyoming profile.

Utah State University

Utah State University offers over 200 majors through its seven colleges. The university is located about 80 miles northeast of Salt Lake City. Lovers of the outdoors will appreciate the university's proximity to skiing, hiking, and boating opportunities. USU wins high marks for its educational value, and student life is active with over 250 clubs and organizations.

Location: Logan, Utah
School type: Public
Enrollment: 28,118 (24,838 undergraduates)
Team: Aggies
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Utah State University profile.