University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · founded 1876 · 23,000 students · public research university · Pac-12 Conference

Known for: A major public research university famous for its track and field legacy under coach Bill Bowerman (co-founder of Nike), its strong journalism and business programs, and its progressive, environmentally-conscious campus in the Willamette Valley.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #98
QS World: #601
Times Higher Education: #401
ARWU Shanghai: #301
Forbes: #146

Top programmes

Journalism
Business Administration
Architecture
Psychology
Biology
Product Design

Notable alumni

Phil Knight — Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Nike
Bill Bowerman — Legendary track and field coach and Nike co-founder
Ann Curry — Award-winning television journalist
Steve Prefontaine — Legendary distance runner and American record holder
Chuck Palahniuk — Author of 'Fight Club'
Katherine Dunn — Author of 'Geek Love'
Ken Kesey — Author of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'
Sabrina Ionescu — Professional basketball player, NCAA record-holder

Traditions

The Oregon Duck mascot
Autzen Stadium 'Shout' chant
The Pioneer Mother statue touch for luck
Duck Pond gatherings

If University of Oregon were…

As a food: Artisanal sourdough with foraged mushrooms — Like this Pacific Northwest staple, UO combines carefully cultivated tradition (track legacy) with wild, locally-sourced innovation (sustainability focus), creating something both wholesome and sophisticated.
As an athlete: Steve Prefontaine — Like the legendary Oregon runner with his mustache and relentless front-running style, UO combines countercultural swagger with elite competitive fire, always pushing the pace in both athletics and progressive values.
As a person alive today: Macklemore — Like the Seattle rapper who blends mainstream success with progressive politics and quirky individuality, UO mixes Division I sports glory with granola-crunchy activism, creating unexpected cultural fusion.
As a historical figure: John Muir — Like the founder of the Sierra Club who combined poetic nature writing with hardcore activism, UO worships Oregon's natural beauty while aggressively institutionalizing environmental protection through policy and science
As a movie or TV show: Portlandia — Like Fred Armisen's satire of Pacific Northwest progressivism, UO fully commits to its eco-conscious, artisanal, slightly self-aware identity while maintaining serious athletic and academic credentials beneath the bird-o
As a US president: Barack Obama — Like the basketball-playing president who combined elite institution credentials with cool cultural relevance, UO mixes serious research with mainstream appeal, always looking smooth while driving progressive change.
As a city: Austin, Texas — Like the Texas capital that bills itself as the liberal oasis in a conservative state, Eugene serves as Oregon's progressive cultural hub where creativity, athletics, and activism coexist in beautiful natural surrounding
As an element: Carbon — Like this versatile element that forms both diamonds and organic life, UO creates multiple allotropes of excellence - hard-edged athletic achievement and soft, sustainable innovation, all built on strong foundational bon
As a car: 1996 Subaru Outback — Granola-crunching Trail Blazers fans meet Nike innovation in a Eugene package that runs on kombucha and Pre's legacy. Progressive enough for bike lanes, outdoorsy enough for Crater Lake weekends, sporty enough to rep Aut

Campus life

Campus life is vibrant and laid-back, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, activism, and outdoor recreation. Eugene offers a quirky, artsy vibe, and the student body is heavily engaged in sports, especially football and track.