Western Private Colleges

There are 163 private colleges and universities in the West enrolling 725,688 students. Explore the list below to find the private college match for you. Private colleges are usually smaller in size, more expensive than public schools and often academically rigorous. If you feel you may have difficulty fitting into the large class sizes which are common on many public campuses, take a look at West private colleges. The  West is home to popular private schools like Stanford University, University of Southern California, Pepperdine University and University of San Francisco.

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West Private 4 Year 2 Year

Stanford University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Stanford, CA
  • 4.8 | 6 reviews
  • Jan 2 application deadline

Stanford is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. The suburban campus sits in the heart of Silicon Valley.

#3 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1510-1580
  • Avg GPA 3.96
  • Acceptance Rate 4%
  • Net Price $25,078
Details

University of Southern California

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews

USC is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate film, communications, and business. The urban Los Angeles campus has a large Greek presence and longstanding ties to the entertainment industry.

#5 Best Private Colleges in California 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1450-1550
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 10%
  • Net Price $43,412
Details

Pepperdine University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Malibu, CA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Pepperdine is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, communication, and international studies. The Malibu campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean from hillsides above the coast.

#14 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1290-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $66,585
Details

University of San Francisco

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Francisco, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

USF is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and international studies. The urban campus sits beside Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

#11 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $45,443
Details

Loyola Marymount University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Loyola Marymount is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and communications. The bluff-top Los Angeles campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

#8 Best Private Colleges in California 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.92
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $59,926
Details

University of San Diego

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Diego, CA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Dec 15 application deadline

USD is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and international relations. The hilltop campus features Spanish Renaissance architecture with views of Mission Bay and the Pacific.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.95
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $37,918
Details

Santa Clara University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Santa Clara, CA
  • 4.9 | 14 reviews
  • Jan 7 application deadline

Santa Clara is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and engineering. The historic campus sits in the heart of Silicon Valley.

#7 Best Private Colleges in California 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1350-1490
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $53,883
Details

Brigham Young University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Provo, UT
  • 4.3 | 16 reviews
  • Dec 16 application deadline

BYU is a private university known for undergraduate accounting, business, and foreign languages. Most students are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and follow a campus honor code.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Utah 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1460
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $16,694
Details

Chapman University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orange, CA
  • 4.3 | 6 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Chapman is a private university known for undergraduate film, media arts, and performing arts. The suburban campus is in the city of Orange in Southern California's Orange County.

#10 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $47,902
Details

California Institute of Technology

  • Private 4 Year
  • Pasadena, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 3 application deadline

Caltech is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate physics, engineering, and chemistry. Most undergrads live on the compact residential campus in Pasadena.

#7 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1530-1580
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 3%
  • Net Price $14,513
Details

University of Denver

  • Private 4 Year
  • Denver, CO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

University of Denver is a private university known for undergraduate international studies and business. The campus sits in a residential Denver neighborhood near the Rocky Mountains.

#2 Best Colleges in Colorado 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $45,451
Details

Pomona College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Claremont, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 8 application deadline

Pomona is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, biology, and politics. Students live on a residential campus and can cross-enroll across the adjoining Claremont Colleges.

#20 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1490-1560
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 7%
  • Net Price $19,938
Details
Azusa Pacific University Campus
 

Azusa Pacific University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Azusa, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Azusa Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The suburban campus sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles.

#16 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 983-1238
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $26,143
Details

Occidental College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 10 application deadline

Occidental is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate politics, international relations, and the sciences. The residential campus sits in Los Angeles's Eagle Rock neighborhood.

#9 Best Private Colleges in California 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1380-1520
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $48,400
Details

University of the Pacific

  • Private 4 Year
  • Stockton, CA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Pacific is a private university known for its Conservatory of Music and undergraduate programs in business and health sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential Stockton campus in California's Central Valley.

#12 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1183-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $31,670
Details

California Institute of the Arts

  • Private 4 Year
  • Valencia, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 5 application deadline

CalArts is a highly selective private arts college known for undergraduate animation, film, and the performing arts. The suburban campus is in Valencia, north of Los Angeles.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 32%
  • Net Price $56,239
Details

Brigham Young University Idaho

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rexburg, ID
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

BYU-Idaho is a private university affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The campus is in Rexburg, a small college town in eastern Idaho.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Idaho 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1200
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.34
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $8,528
Details

Seattle University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Seattle University is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The urban campus sits on First Hill near downtown Seattle.

#3 Best Colleges in Washington 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $36,948
Details