• <a href="/live/image/gid/668/width/650/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image87387"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/500/height/240/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/668/width/500/height/240/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/500/height/240/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/668/width/500/height/240/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 800px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/800/height/383/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/668/width/800/height/383/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 800px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/800/height/383/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/668/width/800/height/383/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 1200px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/1200/height/575/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/1200/height/575/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 1201px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 1201px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/668/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg" alt="On our residential campus, everything you need is right outside your door!" width="1440" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/668/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/87387_EVNT-C-0919-0130.rev.1614276655.jpg 2x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2136" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a><div class="hero-full_image_caption collapsable-caption">On our residential campus, everything you need is right outside your door!</div>

Your Pacific Northwest Home

Where Is Lewis & Clark?

Lewis & Clark is located in the cool, progressive city of Portland, Oregon, in the bountiful Pacific Northwest. We’re just a bit north of the halfway point between the North Pole and the equator, at roughly the same latitude as Lyon, France; Milan, Italy; and Sapporo, Japan. We’re also at the same latitude as Burlington, Vermont; and Minneapolis, Minnesota (but without the subzero temperatures).

Our student body is made up of American students, international students, and students in between (Third Culture Kids), all living and learning together. This means easy and constant exposure to new cultures and beliefs, challenged assumptions, and expanded worldviews. No matter where your passport was issued, we pride ourselves on creating a community that feels like home.

  • Lewis & Clark students in the snow during a College Outdoors trip.
    100+ 

    College Outdoors offers over 100 trips per year.

  •    Students walking on campus under the cherry blossoms.
    47 

    U.S. states represented in our undergraduate student body

  • Undergraduate campus
    Beauty 

    Lewis & Clark is on Condé Nast Traveler’s “54 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States” list.

  • International Fair 2019
    52 

    nationalities represented in our undergraduate student body

  • Class of 2025 on the Glade
    2,139 

    As of fall 2024, there are 2,139 degree-seeking students enrolled at Lewis & Clark College.

  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I was drawn to the small, close-knit community L&C afforded while still having access to a city and all it offers.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/23410-abby-burke">Abby Burke BA’ 26</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Anchorage, Alaska </span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">I wanted to attend a college that was smaller and more personal, but still allowed me to have access to a big city.</span> </p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16676-laura-everson">Laura Everson BA ’22</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Sitka, Alaska</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> Lewis & Clark students, on top of all of their regular academic responsibilities, try their best to be introspective and strive to improve themselves and their communities.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/19604-lucinda-law">Lucinda Law BA ’24</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Chico, California</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I have the opportunity to explore most of my interests without having to leave campus, get mentors in my disciplines of interest, gain work and volunteer experience both in and outside of campus, and participate in student run activities or organizations. Lewis & Clark has changed my way of thinking.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/20603-kiara-gonzalez">Kiara Y. González BA ’27</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Moca, Puerto Rico</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I was drawn in by the insanely gorgeous, verdant campus, the queer community, and the faculty and small class sizes. I have loved being at a school where I can really connect with professors and my classmates.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/22611-zoe-smith">Zoë Smith BA ’25</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Elk Grove, California</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I knew I wanted an opportunity to obtain a liberal arts education on a small, beautiful campus, and L&C offering me a full ride was my green light.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/23427-rebeka-lazova">Rebeka Lazova BA ’25</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Veles, Macedonia</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I heard a lot of great things about Lewis & Clark from multiple alumni, and it also offers really strong financial aid, which was a big factor in my decision.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/23429-debbie-mukuka">Debbie C. Mukuka BA ’27</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Kitwe, Zambia</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I chose to attend L&C because I wanted a warm campus environment, while also having the ability to immerse myself in a new city.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/19888-tyler-langley">Tyler Langley BA ’22</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Los Angeles, California</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I was especially drawn to L&C because of the small class sizes and the opportunities to form interpersonal connections on campus.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/19794-carley-laplaca">Carley LaPlaca BA ’22</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Santa Clara, California</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> What drew me to L&C was the sense of individualism and exploration among students. In terms of research, I liked that I could conduct independent research as early as my sophomore year, and that I would be trained not by a graduate student but by professors themselves.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/22480-torrey-lind">Torrey Lind BA ’22</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Woodinville, Washington</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I came to L&C because of the location, the size of the school, the ability to explore different areas of study, and financial aid.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/19887-liam-beveridge">Liam Beveridge BA ’20</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Seattle, Washington</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> The head lacrosse coach, Lindsay Newman, and the opportunity to help build a brand new lacrosse program.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/23430-sage-swegle">Sage E. Swegle BA ’27</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Conifer, Colorado</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> Since I was little I was always dreaming about going to Lewis & Clark and spending 4 years at this esteemed institution.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/21571-yukino-johnson">Yukino Johnson BA ’26</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Otaru, Hokkaido</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> I liked that L&C was close to home, displayed the beautiful nature of Portland, the academic offerings, and the ability to explore different programs that interested me.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/21574-rosa-caldera">Rosa Caldera BA ’26</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Beaverton, Oregon</span> </p> </blockquote>
  • <blockquote> <p> <p> With small class sizes, you are able to truly collaborate and challenge each other, which coupled with the diversity on campus, ends up raising important questions.</p> </p> <p class="quote-author"> <a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/19884-ashley-brown">Ashley Brown BA ’20</a> <br/> <span class="quoted-profile_meta">Napa, California</span> </p> </blockquote>

Find Your People

At Lewis & Clark, we rally around our shared experience while celebrating and learning from our differences. Our students pride themselves on being individuals, but that does not diminish the feeling of community that you feel on our campus.

You’ll have a chance to both live and study with your classmates, in a close environment that fosters mutual support and understanding. The members of our community represent a wide array of ages, cultures, backgrounds, gender identities, nationalities, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, and beliefs. We embrace them all.

First-generation students, students of color, and allies find a solid community of support and empowerment led by the Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement (IME). IME is dedicated to helping historically marginalized and underrepresented students achieve academic success and become critically conscious and inclusive leaders.

Heart of the City

Straddling the line between a big city and a small town, Portland offers attractions and opportunities for almost any interest. Being so close to downtown provides not only boundless entertainment options, but also internship and job opportunities.

Explore Portland

Experience the Arts

Our arts departments offer some of the most robust opportunities available at a small liberal arts college anywhere. All programs are open to majors and nonmajors alike, with over 70 percent of our students participating deeply in the arts during their time here. You’ll find a strong sense of camaraderie and belonging in the fine arts, as all of our departments are infused with a collaborative spirit and focus on community.

The Platteau is a student art center with the goal of fostering a creative space, open to artists and creative thinkers alike. Students can work in the ceramics studio, darkroom, dance studio, and music studio, or hang out in the central space. The Platteau also hosts regular student events such as open mic nights, poetry readings, and the Drag Show.

Arts@LC

Get Involved

College life is definitely not all work and no play. Lewis & Clark’s 110+ student-led clubs and organizations are one of the many ways you can kick back, relax, and have fun. Sure, student clubs and orgs provide opportunities for leadership development, discussion, personal exploration, and intentional learning. But having fun is almost always part of the plan. We have some clubs you’d expect and some you’d never imagine, like Fire Dancing, Prison Abolition, and Cooking With Chemistry.

Student Life

Support When You Need It

Whether you need help with a class paper or someone to talk to, there are many ways to be supported as a student at Lewis & Clark. Successful students are the ones who utilize our resources.

Wellness at Lewis & Clark

Students interacting with faculty in the lab

Academics

Lewis & Clark is a place where to love learning is the expectation, and where intellectual engagement is a point of connection. Your classmates will help you unpack complex ideas, and in doing so, you’ll get to know and trust each other. Your professors are part of your community, too, and they will support you as a student and as a person.

Student athlete competing in a cross country race

Athletics

Our varsity student-athletes are a big, 21-sport family, with room for club sports and intramural athletes, too. Supported by coaches, trainers, and tutors, the athletic community at Lewis & Clark is noteworthy in its strength.

Join Our Community

Ready to immerse yourself in the rich cultural and environmental experiences of the Pacific Northwest region? Embrace the unique opportunities that Lewis & Clark College offers in the heart of the PNW!

Apply Now