Best Western Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the West for 2024

There are 607 colleges and universities in the West enrolling 4,069,594 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the West below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in West offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  West is home to nationally ranked institutions like Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College. The highest ranked college in the West is Stanford University and the top rated public state college is University of California Los Angeles.


607 results

List of the Best West Colleges

University of California Davis
C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the West

  • 39,679enrollment
  • $17,385net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the West

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Chapman University
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,014enrollment
  • $45,033net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Portland
P
Portland, OR

University of Portland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,793enrollment
  • $33,717net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1228-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Brigham Young University Provo
B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

15 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the West

  • 34,464enrollment
  • $13,521net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1468SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 16

Pepperdine University
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,030enrollment
  • $47,804net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1285-1480SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Seattle University
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,121enrollment
  • $35,412net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of San Francisco
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,688enrollment
  • $42,953net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Westmont College
W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $33,112net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1458SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Colorado School of Mines
C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,403enrollment
  • $29,425net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1488SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in the West

  • 22,000enrollment
  • $19,184net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Gonzaga University
G
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,253enrollment
  • $38,727net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Westminster College
W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $27,068net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1166-1373SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

University of the Pacific
T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the West

  • 6,277enrollment
  • $28,164net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1423SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Puget Sound
P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,023enrollment
  • $41,363net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Lewis & Clark College
L
Portland, OR

Lewis & Clark College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,595enrollment
  • $35,832net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1400SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the West

  • 39,585enrollment
  • $21,836net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in the West

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30