An additional 6,400 students, with more than two-thirds in science or engineering disciplines, attend Michigan Tech. The relatively small size of the community makes it easy for students and residents to get around town and campus. Michigan Technological University is located one mile from downtown Houghton in the center of Upper Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. Campus is on the shore of Portage Lake which is connected to Lake Superior by the Portage Canal. Summers are mild with temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, occasionally reaching the 90s.
Students can enjoy summer sports such as wind surfing, swimming, water skiing, and hiking.
Nearby McLain State Park provides camping and picnicking facilities. There are also local parks with swimming and boating areas. During autumn, the spectacular color change attracts tourists in September and early October. Celebrated during the month of January, Winter Carnival draws students, faculty, community members, and visitors together for a break in the middle of winter term. Many MTU student organizations put in long, cold hours building snow statues to be judged during Carnival.