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

Saint Martin's University
S
Lacey, WA

Saint Martin's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#73 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,616enrollment
  • $23,824net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 995-1225SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

Concordia University Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#74 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,710enrollment
  • $29,893net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Montana State University
M
Bozeman, MT

Montana State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#75 Best Colleges in the West

  • 16,788enrollment
  • $17,656net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1300SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

University of Nevada Las Vegas
N
Las Vegas, NV

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#76 Best Colleges in the West

  • 30,679enrollment
  • $11,834net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

University of Idaho
I
Moscow, ID

University of Idaho

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#77 Best Colleges in the West

  • 11,303enrollment
  • $14,929net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 990-1220SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona
C
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#78 Best Colleges in the West

  • 29,456enrollment
  • $14,457net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Mount St. Mary's College
M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#79 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,625enrollment
  • $27,346net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Fresno Pacific University
F
Fresno, CA

Fresno Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#80 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,524enrollment
  • $18,728net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 970-1240SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of California Merced
C
Merced, CA

University of California Merced

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#81 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,093enrollment
  • $13,578net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

The University of Montana
M
Missoula, MT

The University of Montana

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#82 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,106enrollment
  • $15,220net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 18

San Jose State University
S
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#83 Best Colleges in the West

  • 37,133enrollment
  • $15,995net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.35Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

The Evergreen State College
E
Olympia, WA

The Evergreen State College

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#84 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,116enrollment
  • $14,723net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1200SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

Central Washington University
C
Ellensburg, WA

Central Washington University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#85 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,176enrollment
  • $16,441net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 930-1150SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.08Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Vanguard University of Southern California
V
Costa Mesa, CA
 

Vanguard University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#86 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,268enrollment
  • $21,667net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Rocky Mountain College
R
Billings, MT

Rocky Mountain College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#87 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $20,615net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 975-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

University of Northern Colorado
N
Greeley, CO

University of Northern Colorado

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#88 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,348enrollment
  • $16,510net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 970-1210SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

California State University Chico
C
Chico, CA

California State University Chico

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#89 Best Colleges in the West

  • 15,702enrollment
  • $16,109net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

California Baptist University
C
Riverside, CA

California Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#90 Best Colleges in the West

  • 11,489enrollment
  • $27,883net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 960-1150SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA