Best Value Western Colleges

There are 127 colleges in the West ranked by value using the same methodology as our national list. Rankings balance academic quality with the net price students typically pay.

California Institute of Technology leads West value rankings for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $14,513. The top value public university is University of Washington Seattle Campus. Also high value: Pomona College, Stanford University and University of California Los Angeles.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states.

127 Results
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West Public Private 4 Year

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

Colorado College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and geology. Students take one course at a time under the Block Plan in intensive three-and-a-half-week sessions.

#19 Best Value in the West 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1230-1460
  • Avg GPA 3.98
  • Acceptance Rate 18%
  • Net Price $36,123

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • | 0 reviews

Westminster is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and health sciences. The urban campus sits near the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City.

#20 Best Value in the West 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 67%
  • Net Price $26,844

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fresno Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus is located in Fresno in California's Central Valley.

#21 Best Value in the West 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $15,261

  • Private 4 Year
  • Redlands, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

University of Redlands is a private university known for undergraduate music, business, and the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. The residential campus sits in Redlands in Southern California's Inland Empire.

#22 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1107-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $28,482
Westmont College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Santa Barbara, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Westmont is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and humanities. The residential hillside campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean above Santa Barbara.

#23 Best Value in the West 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $32,172

  • Private 4 Year
  • Denver, CO
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Regis is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus is in northwest Denver.

#24 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $21,618

  • Public 4 Year
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Utah is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and ballet. The campus sits in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains overlooking Salt Lake City.

#25 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $16,583
Azusa Pacific University Campus
 

  • 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.

#26 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 983-1238
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $26,143

  • Private 4 Year
  • La Verne, CA
  • | 0 reviews

University of La Verne is a private university known for undergraduate education, business, and public administration. The suburban campus sits in the San Gabriel foothills east of Los Angeles.

#27 Best Value in the West 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 986-1236
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $21,530

  • Private 4 Year
  • Kirkland, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Northwest University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, ministry, and business. The suburban campus sits in Kirkland east of Seattle.

#28 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $24,251

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Pacific Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in suburban Tacoma with a Lutheran church affiliation.

#29 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,299

  • Private 4 Year
  • Walla Walla, WA
  • 3.4 | 5 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Whitman is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, chemistry, and environmental studies. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Walla Walla.

#30 Best Value in the West 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $37,633

  • Private 4 Year
  • Claremont, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Scripps is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate arts, humanities, and its interdisciplinary Core Curriculum. Most students live on the residential campus and take classes across the Claremont Colleges consortium.

#31 Best Value in the West 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1440-1540
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $44,396

  • Private 4 Year
  • Caldwell, ID
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

The College of Idaho is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and a PEAK curriculum that pairs a major with three minors. The residential campus sits in the small city of Caldwell west of Boise.

#32 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1280
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $21,686

  • Private 4 Year
  • McMinnville, OR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Linfield is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and wine studies. The residential campus sits in the small college town of McMinnville in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

#33 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $29,936

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 11 application deadline

Seattle Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The urban campus sits in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood.

#34 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $25,232

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spokane, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Whitworth is a private Presbyterian university known for undergraduate education, business, and the sciences. The wooded residential campus sits in north Spokane.

#35 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $27,605

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salem, OR
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Willamette is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate political science and government. The historic campus borders the Oregon State Capitol grounds in downtown Salem.

#36 Best Value in the West 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $29,421