Eugene, Oregon, has a metropolitan population of about 350,000 and is located 110 miles south of Portland; cost of living is relatively modest. The Pacific Ocean, the Cascade Mountains, and the city sights of Portland are within a two-hour’s drive. Eugene‘s temperate climate offers pleasantly warm, dry summers and mild winters, and it seldom snows (except in the mountains).

Situated on the Willamette River, the Eugene area is ideal for outdoor activities such as fishing, white-water rafting, skiing, biking, hiking, and rock-climbing. Indoor athletics can be enjoyed in the UO’s new $18.4 million, 128,000 square-foot Student Recreation and Fitness Center. For those who enjoy spectator sports, the UO belongs to the PAC-12 athletic conference. Eugene is also home to the Eugene Emeralds, a Class A short-season minor league baseball team. Eugene is regularly counted in the top five among America’s Top 10 Bike-Friendly Cities, with miles of dedicated bike trails and lanes, and five bridges dedicated to bikes and pedestrians.

The UO School of Music, University Theatre, and Center for Student Involvement offer performances, films, and lectures on campus. Eugene offers the cultural benefits of a large city with the friendly feel of a small town, featuring many excellent brew pubs, restaurants, farmer’s markets, coffee shops, bookstores, and concert venues. Eugene’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts offers nationally known talent ranging from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to rock bands, and regular seasons of theater, opera, and ballet.