Best Western Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the West for 2025

There are 604 colleges and universities in the West enrolling 4,237,965 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.

West Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

604 results

List of the Best West Colleges

Chapman University
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C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,961enrollment
  • $48,037net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of California Davis
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C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the West

  • 39,707enrollment
  • $17,315net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Santa Barbara
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C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the West

  • 26,068enrollment
  • $15,283net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of San Francisco
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S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,212enrollment
  • $44,104net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Brigham Young University Provo
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B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

15 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the West

  • 35,074enrollment
  • $14,643net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1450SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 16

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Seattle University
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S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,182enrollment
  • $37,103net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Westmont College
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W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,310enrollment
  • $36,412net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1212-1418SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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University of Portland
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P
Portland, OR

University of Portland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,457enrollment
  • $34,951net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1356SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Pepperdine University
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P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,545enrollment
  • $52,216net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the West

  • 22,485enrollment
  • $16,888net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Westminster College
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W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,214enrollment
  • $28,156net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1148-1378SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Colorado School of Mines
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C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,599enrollment
  • $29,785net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Gonzaga University
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G
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,306enrollment
  • $40,295net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of the Pacific
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T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the West

  • 6,755enrollment
  • $30,975net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Puget Sound
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P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,914enrollment
  • $42,301net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Colorado Boulder
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C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the West

  • 41,432enrollment
  • $22,640net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1420SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lewis & Clark College
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L
Portland, OR

Lewis & Clark College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,526enrollment
  • $38,247net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Redlands
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R
Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,192enrollment
  • $28,054net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1078-1323SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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