The West Coast’s leader in international and study abroad programs. Politically liberal, but not as far out as crosstown neighbor Reed. With Mount Hood visible in the distance (sometimes), there is a wealth of outdoor possibilities. Located in suburban Portland, within easy reach of the bustle of downtown.

The 19th-century explorers Lewis and Clark struck out from Middle America to find where the trail ended, and their travels took them to Portland, a lush, green paradise by the Willamette River. The college that bears the explorers’ names encourages students to explore too. Since establishing its first overseas study programs in 1962, the college has sent thousands of students around the world to gain global perspectives in their fields of study. Back on campus, opportunities for academic exploration, research, and urban adventures abound. Without a doubt, Lewis & Clark students receive, as one junior puts it, “an excellent, hands-on education.”

Lewis & Clark, which produced its first graduates in 1873, boasts a gorgeous campus perched atop fir-covered bluffs overlooking the river. The campus is an old estate, complete with elaborate gardens, fountains, and pools, where cement is almost nonexistent and the roads are paved with cobblestones. The 50,000-square-foot Howard Hall, built as part of the college’s commitment to sustainable development, earned a gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Howard is one of several energy-saving, environmentally friendly buildings that also include three residence halls.

Lewis & Clark requires that all students achieve competency in a foreign language and international studies; 60 percent of students fulfill these requirements by studying abroad for a semester or more. The college offers more than 30 study abroad programs, many of which are faculty-led, on six continents. Students may also study in a number of American cities. In addition to the international studies requirement, students must complete courses in scientific and quantitative reasoning, creative arts, and physical education. Not surprisingly, one of the most popular majors at Lewis & Clark is international affairs; others include psychology, sociology and anthropology, biology, and English. Students seeking advanced degrees may take advantage of a 4–1 B.A./M.A.T. program in collaboration with Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling, a 3–3 B.A./J.D. program with Lewis & Clark Law School, and 3–2 programs in engineering. Honors programs are available in most departments. The Rogers Summer Science Research Program teams students and faculty on research projects ranging from the evolution of spider venom to cybersecurity analysis. The Bates Center for Entrepreneurship encourages collaboration with faculty, mentors, and outside professionals to reframe problems using entrepreneurial thinking.

L&C students are expected to tackle a challenging workload. A required first-year seminar in the fall helps ease new students into college life. “Classes are hard but not impossible,” says a freshman. Freshmen and graduating seniors get priority in the registration process, helping ensure graduation in four years. For those who plan out their requirements with their academic advisors but are unable to finish in four years, the college commits to paying for an additional semester of study. Professors get high marks for being knowledgeable and passionate. “Most of the classes are small and discussion-based, so there is a lot of time for personal questions,” says a sophomore.

“Students here are socially conscious, motivated, and involved,” says an international affairs major. Eleven percent of undergrads hail from Oregon, and many of the rest are West Coasters seeking an emphasis on the liberal arts; the college is also a haven for well-off Easterners who see L&C as an escape from the social claustrophobia of the typical prep school scene. Five percent of students are drawn from foreign countries. “There is a big divide between athletes and nonathletes,” says one student. “This doesn’t exactly mean that the two groups don’t associate with each other, but the two groups do sit on different sides of the cafeteria. It just feels awkward.” The campus is politically active and predominantly left-leaning. The student body is 4 percent Asian American, 3 percent African American, 13 percent Hispanic, and 7 percent multiracial. The Office of Equity and Inclusion aims to promote and expand campus diversity. Non-need-based financial aid awards average $22,200, but there are no athletic scholarships.

Lewis & Clark’s residency requirement keeps students on campus their first two years; 69 percent of all undergraduates stay in campus housing, which is described as convenient. “The most common room is a double, but there are also quads and singles, all of which have sufficient room for their respective residents,” reports a student. Owing to the college’s hilltop location, lucky dorm residents have views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, or the Portland skyline-at least when they are not fogged in. Students involved in performing arts, multicultural engagement, outdoor pursuits, and other programs can join living/learning communities. Dining halls cater to different diets, offering vegetarian and vegan options at every meal, and “the food is honestly really good,” says a student. Despite L&C’s location in a residential section of Portland, safety is a priority-residence halls have card-swipe entry systems and door alarms, and campus security officers are on duty 24 hours a day.

Fun seekers at Lewis & Clark rely primarily on programs offered through Student Activities, such as on-campus movies, contests, dances, and talent shows; there is no Greek life. Yearly events include the Fall Ball and Spring Fling dances and the International Fair. Students 21 and older are permitted to consume alcohol on campus, and students report that alcohol policies for underage drinkers are enforced. The neighborhood immediately surrounding the college is pleasant, affluent suburbia, which means a few stores, restaurants, and bars. Students get involved in the local community through Saturdays in Service days and a variety of campus organizations. The activity of Portland-mostly on Hawthorne Boulevard in the southeast section, and in the Pearl District or on 23rd Street in the northwest quadrant-is 15 minutes away on the city’s public transit system or the free campus shuttle service, the Pioneer Express. On the weekends and during breaks, College Outdoors sponsors trips to Mount Hood (great skiing, about an hour distant), the eastern Oregon high desert (two hours), or the coastal beaches (an hour and a half). Seattle and Vancouver, BC, three- and six-hour drives, are favorite road trips, as are San Francisco and Las Vegas when there’s more time.

Pioneer teams compete in the Division III Northwest Conference, and the most successful teams include men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis, cross-country, and rowing. As might be expected at a school in the outdoorsy Pacific Northwest, Lewis & Clark has a well-organized intramural program. Ultimate Frisbee, basketball, and volleyball are student favorites. The L&C debate team has won multiple national titles in recent years.

Lewis & Clark’s many outdoor enthusiasts and champions of social causes thrive in the college’s laid-back atmosphere. Students are knowledge-seeking pioneers-ones who would make the school’s namesakes proud. “Students here look outside their lives and experiences in order to find something greater,” says a senior. “We constantly question and search for the answers.”

-Fiske Guide