CSC is located in northwest Nebraska in the scenic Pine Ridge, generally recognized as the most beautiful portion of Nebraska. Outdoor recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting and cross-country skiing abound in the area. "Outside Magazine" has selected Dawes County where Chadron is located as one of the nation's top 100 counties in which to live. In early 2000, "Sports Afield" designated Chadron as one of the "top 50 outdoor sports towns" in the nation and also said Chadron was one of the four best mountain biking towns in the United States. The area has a rich agricultural base, possessing some of the best cattle ranching land in the world. Chadron is a community of nearly 6,000 and possesses many of the cultural and civic opportunities of larger population centers. Chadron State is the only senior-level, accredited college in the western half of Nebraska.