Linfield University is a private liberal arts university founded in 1858, making it one of the oldest universities in the Pacific Northwest. Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country in McMinnville, Linfield enrolls approximately 1,700 undergraduates. The university is known for its close-knit campus community, strong programs in nursing, education, business, and the sciences, and its emphasis on undergraduate research and global education. The Linfield Wildcats compete in the Northwest Conference.