Willamette University is a private liberal arts university of about 2,500 students in Salem, Oregon, across the street from the Oregon State Capitol. Founded in 1842 as the first university in the Pacific Northwest, Willamette is the oldest university in the western U.S. and offers strong programs in law, liberal arts, and business. The campus is renowned for its beauty, particularly a centuries-old oak grove and Mill Stream running through the grounds.