‘Sch. two hours south of U.C.L.A.’ NYT Mini Crossword puzzle clue answer and hints

Have you ever visited the University of California, Los Angeles? I have not, but it’s known as one of the best colleges to study in the United States. Today’s NYT Mini Crossword clue, “Sch. two hours south of U.C.L.A.,” tests your geographical knowledge of the university and asks you to name another popular university toward the south. 

If you’re struggling with the clue, here are some hints and answers for the NYT Mini Crossword on Sept. 9 to finish your crossword. 

‘Sch. two hours south of U.C.L.A.’ NYT Sept. 9 Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint 1: The answer concerns a university with popular programs in fields such as psychology, business, and public health.
• Hint 2: The four-letter solution is the university famous for its motto, “Leadership Starts Here.”
• Hint 3: It starts with the letter “S.”
• Hint 4: The solution has the word “state” in it.

Let’s jump in and reveal the answer. 

Did you see it coming? The answer to five down in the Sept. 9 New York Times Mini Crossword is “SDSU.” The San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California, and its abbreviation is SDSU. According to Google Maps, the distance between the University of California, Los Angeles, and San Diego State University is 134 miles, which takes around two hours toward the southern direction if you’re driving a car. The road has a beautiful coastal view of the North Pacific Ocean and takes longer if you take other means of transport. 

‘Sch. two hours south of U.C.L.A.’ NYT Mini Crossword difficulty rating

The clue starts with an abbreviation Sch., which is easy to solve and understand. The clue asks for a university, which is a two-hour drive toward the south, leading you directly to San Diego State University. So, if you’re from the U.S., chances are you will crack it easily, but if you’re like me, you will have to use Google Maps to pinpoint the location and answer the clue. I’d give it a three out of five for difficulty.

NYT Mini Crossword (Sept. 9) answers

Across

• 1A Alternatives to Macs — PCS
• 4A Mountains on the Swiss Miss logo — ALPS
• 6A They hit the books — NERDS
• 8A They bit the hooks — FISH
• 9A “Don’t be that___!” — GUY

Down

• 1D Pot’s flatter counterpart — PAN
• 2D Symbol on a music staff — CLEF
• 3D Thyme piece — SPRIG
• 5D Sch. two hours south of U.C.L.A — SDSU
• 7D Unlikely to approach a stranger at a party — SHY

How to play other word games like the NYT Mini Crossword

Do you love solving word games like the NYT Mini Crossword? Then you should definitely try the LA Times and the Washington Post word games. If you’ve had enough crosswords for today, try Strands and Spelling Bee.