The Best Value Western Colleges

Best Value Colleges in West for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the West based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in the West is Stanford University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $17,998 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Washington Seattle Campus. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
West Public Private 4 year

124 results

Stanford University
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Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Value in the West

  • 18,446enrollment
  • $17,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Pomona College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value in the West

  • 1,664enrollment
  • $17,423net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value in the West

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $23,397net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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University of California Los Angeles
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C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Value in the West

  • 46,678enrollment
  • $15,166net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California San Diego
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C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Value in the West

  • 42,376enrollment
  • $13,293net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Berkeley
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C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Value in the West

  • 45,699enrollment
  • $16,997net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in the West

  • 1,384enrollment
  • $29,978net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of California Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Value in the West

  • 36,582enrollment
  • $14,647net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg 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

#9 Best Value 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 California Davis
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C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Value 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 Washington Seattle Campus
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W
Seattle, WA

University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#11 Best Value in the West

  • 55,620enrollment
  • $11,023net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1453SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 16

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University of California Riverside
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C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Value in the West

  • 26,426enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#13 Best Value in the West

  • 19,764enrollment
  • $16,526net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Colorado College
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C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Value in the West

  • 2,173enrollment
  • $35,281net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1365-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Utah
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U
Salt Lake City, UT

University of Utah

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#15 Best Value in the West

  • 35,260enrollment
  • $13,341net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1398SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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University of Southern California
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Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#16 Best Value in the West

  • 47,147enrollment
  • $41,496net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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Westminster College
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W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Value in the West

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

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University of California Merced
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C
Merced, CA

University of California Merced

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Value in the West

  • 9,147enrollment
  • $13,232net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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