The University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) was the first public university to be established west of the Mississippi River. With a current enrollment of over 27,000 students that hail from every county in Missouri, every state in the nation, and 98 countries, MU takes great pride in fulfilling its mission as one of America's great land grant universities. MU is a member of the Association of American Universities, which comprises 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada, and MU is one of only 6 American public universities that contains schools of medicine, veterinary medicine, and law within a single campus. The School of Medicine, founded in 1872, and consisting of a faculty of approximately 100 basic scientists and 300 clinicians, is growing at a rapid pace. Approximately 350 residents and fellows in more than 60 specialties and subspecialties currently are enrolled in MU training programs

Columbia is a delightful college town that is the home not only of the main campus of the University of Missouri, but also of Stephens College and Columbia College. With a population of approximately 92,000, Columbia has the convenience and charm of a smaller town while providing the cultural and athletic events characteristic of larger cities. Due to many factors, including its diversity, the strength of its economy, and its outstanding public school system, Columbia is frequently ranked among the top cities in which to live in the Unites States.