Michigan Technological University (commonly referred to as Michigan Tech, MTU, or simply Tech) is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on 925 acres (374 ha) on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake. Michigan Tech was founded in 1885 as the first post-secondary institution in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and was created to train mining engineers to operate the local copper mines. The university's name has changed three times to reflect expansions of degree offerings. Science, technology, forestry and business have been added to the numerous engineering discplines, and Michigan Tech now offers more than 130 degree programs though its five colleges and schools. US News and World Report ranked Michigan Tech's undergraduate program 117th in the nation (out of 368 colleges) based on peer assessment, student selectivity, financial resources and other factors. Michigan Tech was also rated among the "Best in the Midwest" by The Princeton Review. Michigan Tech's athletic teams are nicknamed the Huskies and compete primarily in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).