Founded in 1886 four years before Wyoming achieved statehood, the University of Wyoming is the flagship public land-grant research university of the state of Wyoming. Spanning a 785-acre campus in Laramie situated between the Laramie Mountains and the Snowy Range at an elevation of 7,200 feet, UW combines petroleum engineering, geology, environmental law, carbon management, and Mountain West athletic traditions. You can examine its founding charter, territorial origins, and campus development through the University of Wyoming Wikipedia historical entry.
When you join the student body at UW, you step into a high-powered public research enterprise situated inside Wyoming's premier high-desert mountain college city. Living in Laramie places you minutes away from national forests, rock climbing crags, corporate energy firms, and active student organizations.
Premier Academic Programs
UW hosts nine specialized colleges and schools holding national reputations across diverse disciplines:
- College of Business: AACSB-accredited business school famous for corporate finance, accounting, energy management, and entrepreneurship. Explore degree options on the UW College of Business portal.
- College of Engineering and Physical Sciences: Global leader in petroleum engineering, civil infrastructure, computer science, and atmospheric science.
- School of Energy Resources: World-renowned research institute advancing carbon capture technology, subsurface geology, and hydrogen power.
- University of Wyoming College of Law: State's premier law school recognized for energy law, natural resources regulation, and trial advocacy.
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources: Interdisciplinary center for wildlife management, outdoor leadership, and conservation policy.
"Equality, reflecting Wyoming's heritage as the Equality State, guides UW's commitment to educational access."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily undergraduate student experience centers on Prexy's Pasture quadrangle, Coe Library, and the Wyoming Union. School spirit revolves around Pistol Pete and Cowboy Joe, the energetic costumed mascot and live Shetland pony who lead student cheers during NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference athletic events. You can read about spirit traditions and athletic programs on the official Wyoming Cowboys Athletics portal. Cheering inside War Memorial Stadium for football games, attending basketball games in the Arena-Auditorium, and joining over 300 student clubs creates an extraordinary campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and High-Performance Computing
UW operates a multi-billion-dollar research enterprise credited with major advances in atmospheric research and supercomputing:
- NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC): World-class atmospheric supercomputing facility conducting climate modeling, solar physics, and geosciences research.
- Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO): High-altitude infrared astronomical observatory located atop Jelm Mountain. Learn more via UW Research Operations.
- Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI): Applied research center assisting energy producers with subsurface recovery technologies and reservoir modeling.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Vice Presidents, Governors, NFL Super Bowl MVPs, and corporate CEOs, including:
- Dick Cheney: 46th Vice President of the United States who earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in political science at UW.
- Josh Allen: Pro Bowl NFL quarterback and MVP finalist who starred in college football for the Wyoming Cowboys.
- W. Edwards Deming: Renowned statistician, professor, and pioneer of modern quality management theory who earned his degree at UW.
- Dave Freudenthal: Former Governor of Wyoming and attorney who earned his law degree at the University of Wyoming.