University of Oregon students enjoy the many advantages of living in Eugene, a town of 160,000 people that combines the convenience of small-town life with many of the amenities of much bigger cities. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History are located on campus. The Hult Center for the Performing Arts, the Shedd Institute, the Cuthbert Amphitheater, the McDonald Theater, WOW Hall, and community theater and dance groups create a rich cultural scene. For those who love the outdoors, Eugene is home to hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, running, and biking. Old growth forests, wilderness areas, and spectacular waterfalls make great weekend excursions. Eugene is also located roughly 60 miles from the Pacific Coast, 110 miles from Portland, 130 miles from the high desert community of Bend, and 180 miles from Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The Willamette Valley is also famous for its wineries and craft beer.

UO graduate students can ride Eugene’s extensive bus system for free with their student ID cards. They can find low-cost housing on and off campus; some campus housing sites offer on-site day care programs for student parents.

Here are some links of interest about life in Eugene:

• Explore Eugene
• UO Housing
• Public Transportation
• Bolt Bus (inexpensive trips to Portland and Seattle)
• The Hult Center
• Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
• Oregon Bach Festival
• UO Sports
• Eugene Emeralds (minor league baseball)
• Eugene Trails
• Oregon On-Line Highways (tourism website)
• Saturday Market (farmers’ market and craft fair)
• Eugene Register-Guard
• Eugene Weekly
• Centro LatinoAmericano
• 4J School District