Westfield State University is a public university founded in 1838 — one of the oldest public universities in the United States — in Westfield, a small city in Hampden County in western Massachusetts. Serving approximately 5,500 students, Westfield State offers programs in education, criminal justice, business, psychology, and the liberal arts. The Owls compete in the MASCAC. The university is located in the Pioneer Valley, a region known for its concentration of colleges and universities, and is within easy reach of Springfield and the Berkshire mountains.