Do Colleges Have Snow Days? Explained

Snow Day • By Jon Snow • May 14, 2026

Do Colleges Have Snow Days?

Friends, If you’re heading to college in a snowy state, one question probably crosses your mind every winter:
Do colleges also cancel classes for snow like high schools do?

The answer is yes, but college snow days work very differently from K-12 schools. Universities rarely shut down completely unless weather conditions become dangerous. Instead of automatic “days off,” colleges now rely on delays, remote classes, and emergency weather protocols.

Here’s what really happens when snow hits a college campus.

Do Colleges Cancel Classes for Snow?

Yes, colleges do cancel classes for snow, especially during heavy storms, icy roads, or dangerous travel conditions.

But unlike high schools, colleges usually avoid full shutdowns unless absolutely necessary. Most universities first try options like:

Delayed openings
Online classes
Hybrid instruction
Remote assignments
Early dismissals

The decision depends on several things:

Road safety
Ice accumulation
Wind chill
Public transportation
Campus accessibility
Local emergency warnings

Most announcements happen early in the morning, usually around 5–6 a.m., through email alerts, apps, or official university websites.

Why Colleges Handle Snow Days Differently

College campuses operate more like small cities than regular schools.

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Even during storms, universities still need to keep essential services running, including:

Dormitories
Dining halls
Campus police
Medical centers
Research labs
Maintenance teams

Many students also live directly on campus, so administrators don’t always see snow as a reason to stop everything.

That’s why full snow closures in college are less common than in elementary or high school.

Do Colleges Close for Cold Weather Too?

Sometimes, yes.

Extreme cold can become just as dangerous as heavy snowfall. Universities may delay or cancel classes when:

Wind chills drop below zero
Ice makes sidewalks unsafe
Public transportation shuts down
Pipes freeze across campus
Frostbite risk becomes severe

Most colleges use the same emergency system for both snowstorms and extreme cold alerts.

Does It Snow in College Park, Maryland?

Yes, College Park gets snow every winter, though totals are usually moderate compared to northern states.

The area around the University of Maryland averages roughly 13–17 inches of snowfall per year. January is typically the snowiest month.

Students at UMD usually experience:

Occasional snow delays
Short-term campus closures
Ice-related schedule changes
Remote learning days during bigger storms

Massive blizzards are possible, but they’re not common every year.

How Much Snow Does State College Get?

State College, Pennsylvania — home to Penn State — gets significantly more snow than College Park.

Average yearly snowfall usually falls between 40 and 45 inches.

Some winters stay relatively mild, while others bring major storms exceeding 100 inches total across the season.

One recent storm dropped over 13 inches of snow in State College in just a short period, forcing Penn State to cancel classes and non-essential operations.

Heavy snow is simply part of winter life in central Pennsylvania.

How Colleges Decide Whether to Close

Universities don’t randomly cancel classes. Most schools follow detailed winter emergency procedures.

Campus officials monitor:

National Weather Service forecasts
Ice accumulation
Snowfall speed
Parking lot conditions
Sidewalk safety
Bus operations
Local travel advisories

Facilities crews usually begin preparing before storms even arrive by:

Salting sidewalks
Pretreating roads
Positioning snowplows
Clearing entrances overnight

Only when travel becomes genuinely unsafe do schools move toward full closures.

What Happens During a College Snow Day?

Modern college snow days rarely mean “nothing happens.”

Instead, professors may:

Upload recorded lectures
Assign online work
Hold Zoom classes
Move exams online
Extend deadlines

Post-pandemic learning systems made colleges far more flexible during bad weather.

For students, this means snow days today often become “remote learning days” instead of true vacations.

Tips for Students During Winter Weather

Winter storms on campus can become dangerous fast, especially for commuters.

A few smart habits help a lot:

Check Alerts Constantly – Monitor university apps, email notifications, and emergency pages.
Dress for Ice, Not Just Snow – Good boots matter more than heavy jackets on slippery campuses.
Leave Early – Walking across snowy campuses takes longer than normal.
Keep Emergency Supplies – If you commute, keep a phone charger, blanket, water, flashlight, and ice scraper inside your car.
Know Your Professor’s Policy – Some professors stay flexible during storms, while others expect attendance unless the university officially closes.

Final Thoughts

So, do colleges have snow days?

Yes — but they’re usually more practical and safety-focused than the classic school snow days most people remember growing up.

Colleges try to avoid fully stopping campus operations, especially now that online learning makes remote instruction easier. But when storms become severe, universities absolutely cancel classes or shut down non-essential activities to protect students and staff.

Whether you’re dealing with light snow in Maryland or major winter storms in Pennsylvania, the most important thing is staying informed and staying safe.