This is demonstrated by the faculty's ability to garner large amounts of funding for research and support of graduate students. In terms of federal and private support for research an development, the university ranks among the country's top 20 research universities. All of this is found on a single campus, located entirely within the City of Tucson, a dynamic community of more that half a million people. The average temperature between October and March is 73.3 degrees and students are hard pressed to find a day when the sun doesn't shine. The sun sets dramatically behind Gates Pass, bathing the sky in those fantastic colors seen only in the desert or far out to sea.
Hiking trails begin at the end of major streets.
And if you tire of the local scenery, an hour's drive in any direction puts you in another mountain range. Tired of heading north. Then try south. Mexico, with its old Spanish missions, rich cultural heritage, and beaches beckon many UA students, particularly during spring break, when thousands flock to Rocky Point and the Gulf of California, hust a few hours southwest of Tucson. But before you get there, you come to the Colorado River country, where boating and water shiing attract many weekend warriors.