Springfield is the third largest population center in Missouri. The population of the city is approximately 150,000; if you include the surrounding area, you have a population of about twice that. Springfield serves as a regional center for health and medical services and is home to many industries and corporations.

Springfield and the surrounding Ozark region offers diverse recreational and cultural opportunities.

The Ozarks is a beautiful outdoor recreational center -- with boating and water sports, fishing, hiking, spelunking and white-water canoeing. The area also provides many spectator and participatory sports opportunities, including tennis, racquetball, baseball and softball, basketball, football, soccer and more.

A recent addition to the campus is the performing arts center, a state-of-the-art facility that attracts a wide range of nationally acclaimed performances. Symphony, ballet, opera, and an active civic theater all enrich the cultural environment.

Branson, the country music capital, is located 30 miles south of Springfield and is home to some of the nations finest country music stars.