Accredited Online Colleges in Wyoming (WY)

The Western state of Wyoming is known for its natural beauty, particularly its mountain ranges, plains and foothills. But while it is big on natural splendor, it is small on population—home to only about 563,000 people, the least of any state in the nation. Its largest city only has about 60,000 people. However, due to its quality of life, it's still a great place to go to college and launch a career. At 6.2 percent in March 2011, Wyoming has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This, coupled with a reasonable cost of living and plenty of room to breathe, makes it a favorite to those who live here.

The best areas for jobs in Wyoming include Cheyenne, the state's capital and largest city, as well as the cities of Casper, Laramie and Gillette. Cheyenne is Wyoming's center of culture and recreation; rodeos take place here and the city's western flair is proudly displayed by several pairs of 8-foot-tall cowboy boots scattered throughout downtown. The wind energy industry is picking up steam in Cheyenne for those looking to enter a green industry. In Casper, the energy industry is also important, as it has historically been an oil town and also a center for coal and uranium. Casper is also a regional center of commerce and banking in Wyoming.

Wyoming capitalizes on its natural resources, which are represented in its two primary industries—mineral extraction and travel & tourism. Tourism is a major economic driver here, as thousands of people from around the nation visit Wyoming's national parks, monuments and other natural wonders, particularly Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Those who want to earn a living off of the travel and tourism industry here would do well to pursue studies in hospitality or hospitality management in college. To enter a career in agriculture, another major industry here, students would do well to major in an area such as agribusiness or agricultural economics.

The higher education system in Wyoming is small in conjunction with the size of the state's population. The state is home to one public four-year university and seven community colleges. The University of Wyoming is a research institution situated in Laramie that offers on-campus classes as well as distance education. UW has a diverse campus with more than 13,000 students, with all 50 states and more than 75 countries represented in the student body. UW offers 190 areas of study and was ranked 5th in Forbes' America's Best College Buys for affordability in 2009. It has distinguished itself as the state's only school for baccalaureate and graduate education and research.