Being a college kid is tough! The beer pong competition from the incoming freshmen is stiffer than ever, the late-night Chinese food place stopped letting us order crab rangoons in quantities over a hundred, and I think I’ll actually have to attend math class if I want to pass. To ease our burdens, mountain resorts from all over the east coast are offering discounted season passes to us poor college kids. Here’s a roundup of the best deals on a college season pass.
Read carefully. Some of the requirements for getting a pass are a little weird— for example, getting a Higher Ed Pass requires a letter from your school’s registrar’s office with a raised seal. Every pass requires a school ID with a photo, preferably of you. Also, don’t forget that a sales tax applies to some of the prices.
Other deals are out there other than the season passes. Try bookmarking Liftopia on your Internet browser and checking in regularly to get last-minute discounts on lift tickets. Liftopia also lets you search for discounted lift tickets in advance both by a specific date or a flexible date range.
Tear ‘em up this season!
College Season Passes to multiple mountains
College New England Pass
States: Maine and New Hampshire
Mountains covered: Sunday River (Newry, ME), Loon Mountain (Lincoln, NH), and Sugarloaf Mountain (Carrabassett Valley, ME)*Bonus! Discounted lift tickets at Boyne Resort’s Western Mountains (Michigan)
Price: $349 until November 30
Requirements: Must be carrying 9 credits or have a letter from the registrar’s office.
SOS Pass
States: Vermont and New Hampshire
Mountains covered: Stratton (West Wardsboro, VT), Okemo (Ludlow, VT), and Sunapee (Newbury, NH) *Bonus! 25% discount on multi-day lift ticket rates 7 days a week at Crested Butte (Crested Butte, CO).
Price: $299 until December 19.
Requirements: Full time college student between the ages of 18 and 29.
Triple Major Pass
States: Vermont
Mountains covered: Jay Peak (Jay, VT), Boulton Valley (Richmond, VT), and Mad River Glen (Fayston, VT)
Price: $289 before November 7. $429 after.
Requirements: Letter from the registrar.
College Breakout Season Pass
Mountains covered: Wildcat Mountain (Pinkham Notch, NH), Gunstock (Gilford, NH), and Sunapee (Sunapee, NH)
Price: $259 until December 18.
Requirements: Must have a college ID and a signed and sealed letter from the registrar.
Higher Ed Pass
Mountains covered: Mount Snow (West Dover, VT), Attitash (Barlett, NH), Crotched Mountain (Bennington, NH), Wildcat (Pinkham Notch, NH), Jack Frost Big Boulder (Blakeslee, PA)
Price:$319 until December 12.
Requirements: Full-time student carrying 12 or more credits. Must bring a letter from the registrar on a school letterhead (with a raised seal).
Young Adult/College Full Season Pass
Mountains covered: Whiteface (Lake Placid, NY) and Gore (North Creek, NY)
Price: $385 until November 15. $475 after.
Requirements: Must be a student age 22 or younger.
4-NH College Pass
Mountains covered: Bretton Woods/Mount Washington (Bretton Woods, NH), Cannon (Franconia, NH), Cranmore (North Conway, NH), and Waterville Valley (Waterville Valley, NH)
Price: $289 before November 30. $309 after December 1. *Bonus! $50 for a Nordic Excursion Pass. 10% off resort retail outlets, and save $15 on one full-day, Bretton Woods all-mountain lift ticket per day.
Requirements: Proof of full-time enrollment.
Single mountain passes
Catamount Ski Area (border of South Egremont, MA and Hillsdale, NY)
Price: $239
Jiminy Peak Resort (Hancock, MA)
Price: $299 for full-time students. $239 for part-time students for twilight skiing. Buy before October 15. *Bonus! This pass comes with too many other great discounts to list!
Requirements: Class schedule.
Killington Resort and Pico Mountain (Killington, VT)
Price: $352
Requirements: For full-time students carrying at least 12 credits during both the fall and spring semesters.
Pat’s Peak Ski Area (Henniker, NH)
Price: $339 before November 6. $389 after. *Bonus! Discounts at Mount Sunapee in NH, Burke Mountain in VT, and Jay Peak in VT.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort (Seven Springs, PA)
Price: $299 for weekday skiing (excludes Christmas week).
Shawnee Peak (Bridgton, ME)
Price: $199
Smugglers’ Notch (Smugglers’ Notch, VT)
Price: $279 before October 31. $399 after for full-time students. *Bonus! Check out the website for extra discounts on equipment rentals, lessons, etc.
Stowe Mountain (Stowe, VT)
Price: $399 for full-time students. $599 for part-time students.
Requirements: Signed letter from the registrar, embossed with the school seal and stating your status.
Sugarbush Resort (Warren, VT)
Price: $319 for students. $219 for Mt. Ellen only. Buy before November 1.
Wachusett Mountain (Princeton, MA)
Price: $199 buys UPass; night skiing any day of the week, and full-day skiing during weekdays. $10 off lift tickets on weekends and holidays.