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.
Montana State University
- Public 4 Year
- Bozeman, MT
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
Montana State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and architecture. Bozeman is a mountain college town near the Bridger Mountains and Yellowstone National Park.
- SAT Range 1065-1285
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $20,142
The University of Montana
- Public 4 Year
- Missoula, MT
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 18 application deadline
Montana is a public university known for undergraduate wildlife biology, forestry, and creative writing. The campus sits in Missoula, a college town in the northern Rockies.
- SAT Range 1070-1280
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $17,370
Rocky Mountain College
- Private 4 Year
- Billings, MT
-
| 0 reviews
Rocky Mountain College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate aviation and equestrian studies. The campus sits in Billings, Montana's largest city, near the Yellowstone River.
- SAT Range 893-1133
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 70%
- Net Price $20,791
The University of Montana Western
- Public 4 Year
- Dillon, MT
-
| 0 reviews
Montana Western is a small public university known for Experience One block scheduling and undergraduate programs in education and equestrian studies. The residential campus is in Dillon, a small town in southwestern Montana.
- SAT Range 890-1120
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,745
University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Public 4 Year
- Las Vegas, NV
-
4.0 | 3 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UNLV is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality and hotel management. The urban campus sits near the Las Vegas Strip.
- SAT Range 1010-1240
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $11,553
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Public 4 Year
- Klamath Falls, OR
-
| 0 reviews
- Sep 4 application deadline
Oregon Tech is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate engineering, health technologies, and applied sciences. The Klamath Falls campus sits near Upper Klamath Lake in southern Oregon.
- SAT Range 1000-1270
- Avg GPA 3.51
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $16,831
Portland State University
- Public 4 Year
- Portland, OR
-
| 0 reviews
Portland State is a large public university known for undergraduate urban planning, sustainability, and business. The compact urban campus sits in downtown Portland.
- SAT Range 1000-1250
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $10,195
Southern Oregon University
- Public 4 Year
- Ashland, OR
-
| 0 reviews
SOU is a public university known for undergraduate theater, performing arts, and environmental studies. Ashland is a college town closely tied to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the campus.
- SAT Range 980-1230
- Avg GPA 3.34
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,959
Corban University
- Private 4 Year
- Salem, OR
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Corban is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and education. The residential campus sits in Salem, Oregon's capital city.
- SAT Range 1003-1165
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $27,119
Western Oregon University
- Public 4 Year
- Monmouth, OR
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
Western Oregon is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and American Sign Language programs. The residential campus is in the small college town of Monmouth in the Willamette Valley.
- SAT Range 868-1108
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $14,006
Brigham Young University
- Private 4 Year
- Provo, UT
-
4.4 | 17 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.
- SAT Range 1270-1460
- Avg GPA 3.89
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $16,694
Southern Utah University
- Public 4 Year
- Cedar City, UT
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Sep 8 application deadline
Southern Utah is a public university known for undergraduate theater, performing arts, and education. Cedar City is a small college town near southern Utah national parks.
- SAT Range 1030-1240
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $11,840
Central Washington University
- Public 4 Year
- Ellensburg, WA
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Central Washington is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and aviation. Ellensburg is a residential college town in the Kittitas Valley of central Washington.
- SAT Range 930-1150
- Avg GPA 3.08
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $19,898
Eastern Washington University
- Public 4 Year
- Cheney, WA
-
| 0 reviews
- Sep 10 application deadline
Eastern Washington is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and health sciences. The residential campus is in Cheney, a small college town near Spokane.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $14,767
The Evergreen State College
- Public 4 Year
- Olympia, WA
-
3.7 | 3 reviews
Evergreen is a public liberal arts college known for interdisciplinary programs and environmental studies. The forested campus includes Puget Sound waterfront near Olympia.
- SAT Range 1035-1253
- Avg GPA 3.12
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $18,350
Saint Martin's University
- Private 4 Year
- Lacey, WA
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jul 31 application deadline
Saint Martin's is a private Benedictine university known for undergraduate engineering, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in Lacey near Washington's state capital of Olympia.
- SAT Range 1025-1230
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $29,116
California State University San Marcos
- Public 4 Year
- San Marcos, CA
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
Cal State San Marcos is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban hillside campus is in North San Diego County.
- SAT Range 950-1130
- Avg GPA 3.32
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $10,241
California State University Monterey Bay
- Public 4 Year
- Seaside, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
CSUMB is a public university known for undergraduate marine science and environmental studies. The campus sits on the former Fort Ord site overlooking Monterey Bay.
- SAT Range 960-1160
- Avg GPA 3.45
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $14,493