Big Sky Conference
Members -- Full members
Table:
Institution

Location

Founded

Joined

Enrollment

Nickname

Colors

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

1882

1987

12,607

Eagles

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho

1889

1963, 2014[a 1]

11,814

Vandals

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho

1901

1963

12,805

Bengals

University of Montana

Missoula, Montana

1893

1963

10,104

Grizzlies[a 2]

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana

1893

1963

16,766

Bobcats

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

1899

1970

22,791

Lumberjacks

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado

1889

2006

12,862

Bears

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

1946

1996

27,285

Vikings

California State University, Sacramento

Sacramento, California

1947

1996

31,181

Hornets

Southern Utah University

Cedar City, Utah

1897

2012

10,196

Thunderbirds

Weber State University

Ogden, Utah

1889

1963

27,465

Wildcats

Looking at the following table along with the context snippets listed at the end.

Respond to the question below: How many students were in the first class of the older school in Idaho ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

Eastern Washington University ( EWU ) is a public university in Cheney , Washington , with programs offered at campuses in Cheney , EWU Spokane at the Riverpoint Campus and at multiple campus locations throughout the state . Founded in 1882 , the university is academically divided into six colleges : Arts , Letters & Education ; Business & Public Administration ; Science , Technology , Engineering & Mathematics ; Social Sciences ; Health Science & Public Health ; and University College . As of fall 2014 , Eastern Washington University enrolled over 13,000 graduate and undergraduate students at both its Cheney and Spokane campuses .
Cheney ( /ˈtʃiːni/ CHEE-nee ) is a city in Spokane County , Washington , United States . The full-time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census . Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney . When classes are in session at EWU , the city 's population reaches approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis .
The Eastern Washington Eagles are the intercollegiate varsity athletic teams of Eastern Washington University in Cheney , southwest of Spokane . A member of the Big Sky Conference , EWU 's athletic program comprises five men 's sports : basketball , cross country , football , tennis , and track and field , and seven women 's sports : basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , tennis , track and field , and volleyball .
The University of Idaho ( U of I , or UIdaho ) is a public university in Moscow , Idaho . It is the state 's land-grant and primary research university . It is the lead university in the Idaho Space Grant Consortium . The University of Idaho was the state 's sole university for 71 years , until 1963 , and its College of Law , established in 1909 , was first accredited by the American Bar Association in 1925 . Formed by the territorial legislature on January 30 , 1889 , the university opened its doors in 1892 on October 3 , with an initial class of 40 students . The first graduating class in 1896 contained two men and two women . It has an enrollment exceeding 12,000 , with over 11,000 on the Moscow campus . The university offers 142 degree programs , from accountancy to wildlife resources , including bachelor 's , master 's , doctoral , and specialists ' degrees . Certificates of completion are offered in 30 areas of study . At 25% and 53% , its 4 and 6 year graduation rates are the highest of any public university in Idaho , and it generates 74 percent of all research money in the state , with research expenditures of $ 100 million in 2010 alone . As a land-grant university and the primary research university in the state , UI has the largest campus in the state at 1,585 acres ( 6.4 km2 ) , in the rolling hills of the Palouse region at an elevation of 2,600 feet ( 790 m ) above sea level . The school is home to the Idaho Vandals , who compete in NCAA Division I athletics .
Moscow ( /ˈmɒskoʊ/ MOS-koh ) is a city in northern Idaho along the state border with Washington , with a population of 23,800 at the 2010 census . The county seat and largest city of Latah County , Moscow is the home of the University of Idaho , the state 's land grant institution and primary research university . It is the principal city in the Moscow , Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area , which includes all of Latah County . The city contains over 60% of the county 's population , and while the university is Moscow 's dominant employer , the city also serves as an agricultural and commercial hub for the Palouse region . Along with the rest of northern Idaho , Moscow is in the Pacific Time Zone . The elevation of its city center is 2,579 feet ( 786 m ) above sea level . Major highways serving the city are US-95 ( north-south ) and ID-8 ( east-west ) , both of which are routed through central Moscow . Limited commercial air service is four miles west ( 6 km ) at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport .
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Idaho , located in Moscow . The Vandals compete at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Big Sky Conference . The football team was an independent for the 2013 season due to a major wave of departures from the Western Athletic Conference that left just two football-playing schools . In July 2014 , Idaho returned its football team to the Sun Belt Conference and the other sports rejoined the Big Sky Conference . The university 's official colors are silver and gold , honoring the state 's mining tradition . Because these metallic colors in tandem are not visually complementary for athletic uniforms , black and gold are the prevalent colors for the athletic teams , with an occasional use of silver , similar to Colorado , whose official colors are also silver and gold . When Idaho moved out of the Big Sky to the Big West in 1996 , the yellow Green Bay gold was changed to metallic Vegas gold . Yellow gold and black were the colors used by most of the varsity teams from 1978 to 1996 , initiated by first-year head football coach Jerry Davitch 's new uniforms for 1978 . On April 27 , 2016 , it was reported that the Vandals would become the first football program to voluntarily drop from the FBS level to the FCS level , beginning in 2018 . All previous programs to have moved from FBS to FCS level did so because the NCAA downgraded either the individual programs or their conferences .
Idaho State University ( ISU ) is a public research university in Pocatello , Idaho . Founded 119 years ago in 1901 as the Academy of Idaho , ISU offers more than 280 programs at its main campus and at locations in Meridian , Idaho Falls , and Twin Falls . It is the state 's designated lead institution in health professions and medical education . [ citation needed ] There are 48 U.S. states and 59 countries represented at ISU and 285 programs , including Master 's and Doctorate programs . The student-teacher ratio is 17:1 , gender of students is 44 percent male , 56 percent female , and ISU has more than 160 clubs and organizations . Enrollment for the fall semester in 2012 stood at 14,209 , including 12,143 undergraduate students and 2,066 graduate students .
Pocatello ( /ˈpoʊkəˈtɛloʊ/ ( listen ) ) is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County , with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County , in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho . It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area , which encompasses all of Bannock County . As of the 2010 census the population of Pocatello was 54,255 . Pocatello is the fifth-largest city in the state , just behind Idaho Falls ( population of 56,813 ) . In 2007 , Pocatello was ranked twentieth on Forbes list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers . Pocatello is the home of Idaho State University and the manufacturing facility of ON Semiconductor . The city is at an elevation of 4,462 feet ( 1,360 m ) above sea level and is served by the Pocatello Regional Airport .
The Idaho State Bengals are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams representing Idaho State University , located in Pocatello , Idaho . The university sponsors thirteen teams including men and women 's basketball , cross country , tennis , and track and field ; women's-only golf , soccer , softball , and volleyball ; and men's-only football . The Bengals compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I level ( Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) for college football ) and are currently a member institution of the Big Sky Conference . The Bengals ' in-state athletic rivals are the Boise State University Broncos ( located in Boise ) and the University of Idaho Vandals ( located in Moscow ) .
The University of Montana ( UM ) is a public research university in Missoula , Montana . UM is a flagship institution of the Montana University System and its second largest campus . UM reported 10,962 undergraduate and graduate students in the fall of 2018 . The University of Montana ranks 17th in the nation and fifth among public universities in producing Rhodes Scholars . The University of Montana has 11 Truman Scholars , 14 Goldwater Scholars and 40 Udall Scholars to its name .
Missoula /mɪˈzuːlə/ ( listen ) is a city in the U.S. state of Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County . It is located along the Clark Fork River near its confluences with the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers in western Montana and at the convergence of five mountain ranges , thus it is often described as the hub of five valleys . In 2018 [ update ] , the United States Census Bureau estimated the city 's population at 74,428 and the population of the Missoula Metropolitan Area at 118,791 . After Billings , Missoula is both the second largest city and metropolitan area in Montana . Missoula is home to the University of Montana , a public research university . William T. Hamilton first settled in the Missoula area in 1858 with a trading post near current Missoula along the Rattlesnake Creek along with Captain Richard Grant settling near Grant Creek , and David Pattee near Pattee Canyon . Missoula was founded in 1860 as Hellgate Trading Post while still part of Washington Territory . By 1866 , the settlement had moved east , 5 miles ( 8 km ) upstream , and renamed Missoula Mills , later shortened to Missoula . The mills provided supplies to western settlers traveling along the Mullan Road . The establishment of Fort Missoula in 1877 to protect settlers further stabilized the economy . The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1883 brought rapid growth and the maturation of the local lumber industry . In 1893 , the Montana Legislature chose the city as the site for the state 's first university .
The Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz are the nicknames given to the athletic teams of the University of Montana , located in Missoula . The university is a member of the Big Sky Conference and competes in NCAA Division I , fielding 6 men 's teams ( basketball , football , cross country , tennis , and track & field ( indoor and outdoor ) ) and 9 women 's teams ( basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , softball , tennis , track & field ( indoor & outdoor ) , and volleyball ) . The football team has won the university 's only two NCAA Championships .
Montana State University ( MSU ) is a public land-grant research university in Bozeman , Montana . It is the state 's largest university . MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 51 fields , master 's degrees in 41 fields , and doctoral degrees in 18 fields through its nine colleges . The university regularly reports annual research expenditures in excess of $ 100 million , including a record $ 138.8 million in 2019 . More than 16,700 students attend MSU , and the university faculty numbers , including department heads , are 602 full-time and 460 part-time . The university 's main campus in Bozeman is home to KUSM television , KGLT radio , and the Museum of the Rockies . MSU provides outreach services to citizens and communities statewide through its agricultural experiment station and 60 county and reservation extension offices .
Bozeman is a city in and the seat of Gallatin County , Montana . Located in southwest Montana , the 2010 census put Bozeman 's population at 37,280 and by 2018 the population rose to 48,532 , making it the fourth largest city in Montana . It is the principal city of the Bozeman , MT Micropolitan Statistical Area , consisting of all of Gallatin County with a population of 97,304 . It is the largest Micropolitan Statistical Area in Montana , the fastest growing Micropolitan Statistical Area in the United States in both 2018 and 2019 and is the third largest of all Montana 's statistical areas . The city is named after John M. Bozeman who established the Bozeman Trail and was a founder of the town in August 1864 . The town became incorporated in April 1883 with a city council form of government and in January 1922 transitioned to its current city manager/city commission form of government . Bozeman was elected an All-America City in 2001 by the National Civic League . Bozeman is home to Montana State University . The local newspaper is the Bozeman Daily Chronicle , and the city is served by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport .
The Montana State Bobcats are the varsity athletic teams representing Montana State University in Bozeman in intercollegiate athletics . The university sponsors thirteen teams including men and women 's basketball , cross country , skiing , tennis , and track and field ; women's-only golf and volleyball ; and men's-only football . The Bobcats compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Big Sky Conference with the exception of the men 's and women 's skiing teams which belong to the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association . Their main rivals are the Grizzlies of the University of Montana in Missoula . Both schools are charter members of the Big Sky Conference , which began competition 57 years ago in the fall of 1963 .
Northern Arizona University ( NAU ) is a public research university with its main campus in Flagstaff , Arizona . Governed by the Arizona Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission , the university offers 158 baccalaureate and graduate degree programs . As of fall 2019 , 30,736 students were enrolled , 22,791 at the Flagstaff campus . The average cost of tuition and fees for a full-time , Arizona resident undergraduate student for two semesters is $ 11,896 , and out-of-state undergraduates pay an estimated $ 26,516 . NAU also participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program , which offers lower tuition rates for students from the Western United States . For 2018-19 , WUE tuition and fees are $ 16,759 . NAU offers Flagstaff undergraduate students the Pledge Program , which guarantees the same tuition rate for four years .
Flagstaff is a city in and the county seat of Coconino County in northern Arizona , in the southwestern United States . In 2018 , the city 's estimated population was 73,964 . Flagstaff 's combined metropolitan area has an estimated population of 139,097 . The city is named after a ponderosa pine flagpole made by a scouting party from Boston ( known as the Second Boston Party ) to celebrate the United States Centennial on July 4 , 1876 . Flagstaff lies near the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau , along the western side of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the continental United States . Flagstaff is next to Mount Elden , just south of the San Francisco Peaks , the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona . Humphreys Peak , the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet ( 3,851 m ) , is about 10 miles ( 16 km ) north of Flagstaff in Kachina Peaks Wilderness . Flagstaff 's early economy was based on the lumber , railroad , and ranching industries . Today , the city remains an important distribution hub for companies such as Nestlé Purina PetCare , and is home to Lowell Observatory , the U.S . Naval Observatory , the United States Geological Survey Flagstaff station , and Northern Arizona University . Flagstaff has a strong tourism sector , due to its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park , Oak Creek Canyon , the Arizona Snowbowl , Meteor Crater , and historic Route 66 . The city is also a growing center for medical and biotechnology manufacturing , home to corporations such as SenesTech and W. L. Gore and Associates .
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks ( also NAU ) are the varsity athletic teams representing Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff , Arizona in intercollegiate athletics . The university sponsors 15 teams including men 's and women 's basketball , men 's and women 's cross country and track & field , men 's and women 's tennis , women 's golf , women 's soccer , women 's swimming and diving , women 's volleyball and football . The Lumberjacks compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Big Sky Conference with the exception of the women 's swimming and diving team which is an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference .
The University of Northern Colorado ( UNC ) is a public research university in Greeley , Colorado . The university was founded in 1889 as the State Normal School of Colorado and has a long history in teacher education . Approximately 12,000 students are enrolled in six colleges . Extended campus locations in are in Loveland , Denver , and Colorado Springs . UNCs 19 athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I athletics .
Greeley is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Weld County , Colorado , United States . Greeley is in northern Colorado and is situated 49 miles ( 79 km ) north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver . According to a July 2018 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau , the population of the city is 107,348 , and a 2014 population estimate made Greeley the 12th-most-populous city in Colorado . Greeley is a major city of the Front Range Urban Corridor .
The Northern Colorado Bears are the athletic teams representing the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley , Colorado in intercollegiate athletics . The university sponsors seventeen teams including men and women 's basketball , cross country , golf , tennis , and track and field ; women's-only soccer , softball , swimming and diving , and volleyball ; and men's-only baseball , football , and wrestling . The Bears compete in NCAA Division I , with the football team competing at the FCS level , and most teams are members of the Big Sky Conference . Three Northern Colorado teams have separate affiliations in sports that the Big Sky does not sponsor . The baseball and the women 's swimming and diving teams are affiliate members of the Western Athletic Conference , and the wrestling team is a member of the Big 12 Conference .
Portland State University ( PSU ) is a public research university in Portland , Oregon . It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans . It evolved into a four-year college over the following two decades and was granted university status in 1969 . It is the only public urban university in the state of Oregon that is located in a large city . It is governed by a board of trustees . The university is categorized as an R2 : Doctoral University - Higher Research Activity in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education . Portland State is composed of seven constituent colleges , offering undergraduate degrees in one hundred twenty-three fields , and postgraduate degrees in one hundred seventeen fields . Schools at Portland State include the School of Business Administration , College of Education , School of Social Work , College of Urban and Public Affairs , College of the Arts , Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science , and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences . The athletic teams are known as the Portland State Vikings with school colors of green and white . Teams compete at the NCAA Division I Level , primarily in the Big Sky Conference .
Portland ( /ˈpɔːrtlənd/ ; PORT-lənd ) is the largest and most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County . It is a major port in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest , at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers . As of 2018 , Portland had an estimated population of 653,115 , making it the 25th most populated city in the United States , and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest after Seattle . Approximately 2.4 million people live in the Portland metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) , making it the 25th most populous in the United States . Its combined statistical area ( CSA ) ranks 19th-largest with a population of around 3.2 million . Approximately 60% of Oregon 's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area . [ a ] Named after Portland , Maine , the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1830s near the end of the Oregon Trail . Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods , and the timber industry was a major force in the city 's early economy . At the turn of the 20th century , the city had a reputation as one of the most dangerous port cities in the world , a hub for organized crime and racketeering . After the city 's economy experienced an industrial boom during World War II , its hard-edged reputation began to dissipate . Beginning in the 1960s , Portland became noted for its growing progressive political values , earning it a reputation as a bastion of counterculture . The city operates with a commission-based government guided by a mayor and four commissioners as well as Metro , the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States .
Portland State Vikings is the nickname of the NCAA-affiliated , intercollegiate athletic teams representing Portland State University of Portland , Oregon . The Vikings compete at the NCAA Division I level in basketball , soccer , volleyball , golf , tennis , softball , indoor and outdoor track and field , and cross country . The university has been a member of the Big Sky Conference since 1996 . Along with the other Big Sky football programs , Viking football takes-part in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) , formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA . Prior to joining Division I , the school won NCAA National Division II Championships in women 's volleyball and wrestling . The school has also placed second twice nationally in football and once in women 's basketball at the Division II level . Portland State 's colors are forest green and white , and its mascot is the Viking manifested as Victor E. Viking . Among the more notable former PSU athletes are Freeman Williams and Neil Lomax . Freeman Williams was the NCAA Division I national men 's basketball individual scoring leader in 1977 and 1978 . Neil Lomax was a record-setting quarterback who went on to star for the then St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL . Football 's Run & Shoot offense was first implemented at the college level at PSU by then coach Darryl Mouse Davis . Davis ' quarterback protégées were Lomax and June Jones .
California State University , Sacramento ( CSUS , Sacramento State , or informally Sac State ) is a public university in Sacramento , California . Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College , it is the eleventh oldest school in the 23-campus California State University system . The university enrolls approximately 31,500 students annually , has an alumni base of more than 240,000 and awards 7,838 degrees annually . The university offers 151 different Bachelor 's degrees , 69 Master 's degrees , 28 types of teaching credentials , and 2 Doctoral degrees . The university also has extensions in Singapore , offering a unique IMBA ( International Master 's in Business Administration ) . It is consistently one of the top three destinations among all universities in the state for California Community College students , welcoming over 4,000 new transfers each academic year . The campus sits on 300 acres , covered with over 3,500 trees and over 1,200 resting in the University Arboretum ( formerly the Goethe Arboretum ) . The university is the site of two National Register of Historic Places , the Julia Morgan House and the terminus of the Pony Express . The Arbor Day Foundation officially declared the university Tree Campus USA in 2012 .
Sacramento ( /ˌsækrəˈmɛntoʊ/ SAK-rə-MEN-toh ; Spanish : [ sakɾaˈmento ] ; Spanish for sacrament ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County . Located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in Northern California 's Sacramento Valley , Sacramento 's estimated 2018 population of 501,334 makes it the sixth-largest city in California and the ninth largest capital in the United States . Sacramento is the seat of the California Legislature and the Governor of California , making it the state 's political center and a hub for lobbying and think tanks . Sacramento is also the cultural and economic core of the Sacramento metropolitan area , which had a 2010 population of 2,414,783 , making it the fifth largest in California . Before the arrival of the Spanish , the area was inhabited by the Nisenan , indigenous peoples of California . Spanish cavalryman Gabriel Moraga surveyed and named the Rio del Santísimo Sacramento ( Sacramento River ) in 1808 , after the Blessed Sacrament , referring to the Eucharist in the Catholic Church . In 1839 , Juan Bautista Alvarado , Mexican governor of Alta California , granted the responsibility of colonizing the Sacramento Valley to Swiss-born Mexican citizen John Augustus Sutter , who subsequently established Sutter 's Fort and the settlement at the Rancho Nueva Helvetia . Following the American Conquest of California and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo , the waterfront developed by Sutter began to be developed , and incorporated in 1850 as the City of Sacramento . As a result of the California Gold Rush , Sacramento became a major commercial center and distribution point for Northern California , serving as the terminus for the Pony Express and the First Transcontinental Railroad . Sacramento is the fastest-growing major city in California , owing to its status as a notable financial center on the West Coast and as a major educational hub , home of California State University , Sacramento and University of California , Davis . Similarly , Sacramento is a major center for the California healthcare industry , as the seat of Sutter Health , the world-renowned UC Davis Medical Center , and the UC Davis School of Medicine , and notable tourist destination in California , as the site of The California Museum , the Crocker Art Museum , the California State Railroad Museum , the California Hall of Fame , the California State Capitol Museum , and the Old Sacramento State Historic Park . Sacramento International Airport , located northwest of the city , is the city 's major airport .
The Sacramento State Hornets ( also Sac State ) represent California State University , Sacramento in Sacramento , the capital city of the U.S. state of California , in intercollegiate athletics . The school fields 21 teams including men and women 's basketball , cross country , golf , rowing , soccer , tennis , and track and field ; women's-only gymnastics , beach volleyball , volleyball , and softball ; and men's-only baseball and football . The Hornets compete in NCAA Division I , and are members of the Big Sky Conference . The men 's soccer and women 's beach volleyball teams play as affiliate members in the Big West Conference , the baseball team plays as an affiliate member in the Western Athletic Conference , and the women 's rowing team is an affiliate of the American Athletic Conference .
Southern Utah University ( SUU ) is a public university in Cedar City , Utah . Founded in 1897 as a normal school , Southern Utah University now graduates over 1,800 students each year with baccalaureate and graduate degrees from its six colleges . SUU offers more than 140 undergraduate degrees and 19 graduate programs . More than 10,000 students attend SUU . SUU 's 17 athletic teams compete in Division 1 of the NCAA and are collectively known as the Thunderbirds . SUU joined the Big Sky Conference in September 2012 . Southern Utah University is also the site for the Utah Summer Games .
Cedar City is the largest city in Iron County , Utah , United States . It is located 250 miles ( 400 km ) south of Salt Lake City , and 170 miles ( 270 km ) north of Las Vegas on Interstate 15 . It is the home of Southern Utah University , the Utah Shakespeare Festival , the Utah Summer Games , the Neil Simon Theatre Festival , and other events . As of the 2010 census the city had a population of 28,857 , up from 20,257 in 2000 . As of 2018 the estimated population was 33,055 .
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds are the varsity athletic teams representing Southern Utah University in Cedar City , Utah in intercollegiate athletics . The university sponsors seventeen teams including seven mens sports : basketball , cross country , football , golf , tennis , and track and field and ten women 's sports : basketball , cross country , golf , gymnastics , soccer , softball , tennis , track and field , and volleyball . The baseball program was dropped after the 2011-12 season . The Thunderbirds compete in NCAA Division I and joined the Big Sky Conference on July 1 , 2012 after departing from The Summit League .
Weber State University ( pronounced /ˈwiːbər/ WEE-bər ) is a public university in Ogden , Utah . It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy . It gained university status 29 years ago in 1991 , when it was renamed to its current name of Weber State University . It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities .
Ogden /ˈɒɡdən/ is a city and the county seat of Weber County , Utah , United States , approximately 10 miles ( 16 km ) east of the Great Salt Lake and 40 miles ( 64 km ) north of Salt Lake City . The population was 87,325 in 2018 , according to the US Census Bureau , making it Utah 's 7th largest city . The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history , and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a convenient location for manufacturing and commerce . Ogden is also known for its many historic buildings , proximity to the Wasatch Mountains , and as the location of Weber State University . Ogden is a principal city of the Ogden-Clearfield , Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) , which includes all of Weber , Morgan , Davis , and Box Elder counties . The 2010 Census placed the Metro population at 597,159 . In 2010 , Forbes rated the Ogden-Clearfield MSA as the 6th best place to raise a family . Ogden has had a sister city relationship to Hof ( Germany ) since 1954 .
The Weber State Wildcats are the varsity athletic teams representing Weber State University in Ogden , Utah in intercollegiate athletics , sponsoring 16 teams . The Wildcats compete in NCAA Division I FCS and are members of the Big Sky Conference . Their mascot is Waldo the Wildcat and team colors are purple and white , with black used as a number color .