Best Western Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the West for 2023

There are 563 colleges and universities in the West enrolling 3,806,140 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.


563 results

List of the Best West Colleges

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the West

  • 26,124enrollment
  • $17,223net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Brigham Young University Provo
B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the West

  • 34,811enrollment
  • $13,150net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1440SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 16

University of Portland
P
Portland, OR

University of Portland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the West

  • 4,033enrollment
  • $37,317net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1165-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of the Pacific
T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the West

  • 6,066enrollment
  • $32,780net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1380SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Pepperdine University
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,446enrollment
  • $46,550net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1440SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Colorado School of Mines
C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,187enrollment
  • $27,675net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of San Francisco
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,034enrollment
  • $42,801net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Seattle University
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,268enrollment
  • $36,843net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Westmont College
W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,238enrollment
  • $32,418net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1460SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the West

  • 22,231enrollment
  • $20,491net price
  • 33%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

#29 Best Colleges in the West

  • 7,381enrollment
  • $36,880net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Westminster College
W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,535enrollment
  • $25,278net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Lewis & Clark College
L
Portland, OR

Lewis & Clark College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,499enrollment
  • $37,478net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Saint Marys College of California
S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,165enrollment
  • $40,401net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg 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

  • 2,173enrollment
  • $38,127net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1370SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the West

  • 39,000enrollment
  • $21,198net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Linfield University
L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,297enrollment
  • $28,517net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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

  • 19,841enrollment
  • $17,842net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30