Graduate Programs - About Moscow

MOSCOW, THE PALOUSE REGION, AND THE STATE OF IDAHO

Moscow, which is located in the Palouse Hills of northern Idaho, is the home of the University of Idaho. It is a progressive community of 21,000 residents. The climate is mild, with temperatures ranging from a mean high of 84 ºF in August to a mean low of 22 ºF in January. Palouse farmland is among the country's richest, producing crops of wheat, peas, and lentils. At its eastern edge, the Palouse Hills support coniferous forests that contribute to the area's timber industry and provide plentiful recreational opportunities.

Moscow is approximately 35 miles north of the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers and about 80 miles south of the international resort town of Coeur d'Alene, ID (more). Spokane, WA, a city of over 200,000, is about a ninety minute drive away. Recreational opportunities abound, including camping, hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, boating, climbing, bicycling, and skiing. Two major ski areas located north of Moscow--Schweitzer Mountain Resort and Silver Mountain--are each less than a 3 hour drive away. Idaho's largest lakes, Coeur d'Alene and Pend Oreille, are in a land of over 30 lakes, all within a couple hours north of Moscow. World-famous Hell's Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America, is a short drive south of town. Washington State University, 8 miles to the west in Pullman, Washington, has a student body of about 18,000. Pullman has a population of 25,000, making this a region dominated by students and university life.

The City of Moscow is a thriving retail and hospitality center. Moscow offers an eclectic variety of cultural, recreational, and athletic attractions. Spring through fall, residents enjoy the weekly Farmer's Market downtown. Each year the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival brings world-renowned performers to Moscow. Other major annual events include the Moscow Renaissance Fair in May and July's Rendezvous in the Park music series. Athletic events include the University of Idaho teams, which compete in the Division 1 Western Athletics Conference (WAC), and Washington State University teams in the Pac-10 conference.

For several years in a row, Moscow has been named one of the "best 100 small art towns in America." There are regular performances by the Washington-Idaho Symphony and, in summer, by the Idaho Repertory Theatre. Both the UI and WSU offer live theatre and performances by top musicians in a wide range of genres from classical to Celtic to pop. There are numerous galleries in town and on campus.

Idaho has more public land than any state in the lower 48, except Nevada. Much of the state is designated wilderness. Terrain ranges from the high deserts of the south to the majestic Sawtooth Mountains, to the timbered hills and lakes of the north. Public lands are actively managed by state and federal land management agencies, all of which have open door policies for visitors, available for easy enjoyment of hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, or mountain biking.

For those coming to Moscow with families, the town has a low student to teacher ratio of 13.5:1 in the public schools and 75% of the teachers have 10 years or more of experience. 48% of the teachers have a Masters degree and 30 additional hours of coursework. The average expenditure per student is $6,461. There are six (6) public elementary schools, one (1) junior high, and one (1) high school in Moscow. There are also church sponsored schools in town. General information about the community can be found here.