Located along the banks of the Clark Fork River, Missoula is a picturesque mountain community situated in the mouth of five valleys - the Bitterroot, the Blackfoot, the Hellgate, the Missoula, and the Rattlesnake. Known as the "Garden City" for its dense trees, plentiful flower and vegetable gardens and lush green landscape, Missoula is the shopping, recreational, entertainment and educational hub of western Montana. Within minutes, residents can leave the city and find themselves in secluded forests, on pristine rivers or on the side of a rugged mountain.

While the official population of Missoula is listed at about 43,000 people, about 30,000 other people live outside city limits, choosing to commute to jobs in the city or attend classes at The University of Montana.

The University of Montana is a magnet for energetic and highly qualified teachers and researchers. The University also brings in thousands of out-of-state and foreign students to offset its relatively isolated setting and enhance its diversity. University of Montana’s combination of a beautiful campus, high-quality education and a vibrant Missoula community has captured much national attention. Rolling Stone once deemed UM’s campus the most scenic in America, and Outside Magazine rated the University in the top 10 colleges nationally for combining academic quality and outdoor recreation.