Top Rated West Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the West for 2023

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the West as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2023 as the best public college in the West is University of California Los Angeles. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


65 results

University of California Los Angeles
C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in America

  • 46,116enrollment
  • $16,474net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Berkeley
C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in America

  • 45,036enrollment
  • $19,329net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Washington Seattle Campus
W
Seattle, WA

University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,434enrollment
  • $9,661net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1453SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 16

University of California San Diego
C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in America

  • 41,885enrollment
  • $15,222net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,505enrollment
  • $13,106net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Davis
C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 40,050enrollment
  • $17,026net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,124enrollment
  • $17,223net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Colorado School of Mines
C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 7,187enrollment
  • $27,675net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in California

  • 22,231enrollment
  • $20,491net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Colorado

  • 39,000enrollment
  • $21,198net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,841enrollment
  • $17,842net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Hawaii at Manoa
H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value in Hawaii

  • 19,098enrollment
  • $15,193net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

University of Utah
U
Salt Lake City, UT

University of Utah

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Utah

  • 34,464enrollment
  • $12,881net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1390SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

University of California Riverside
C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,847enrollment
  • $11,948net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Alaska Fairbanks
A
Fairbanks, AK

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Alaska

  • 6,826enrollment
  • $10,778net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1360SAT range
  • 17-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

University of Wyoming
W
Laramie, WY

University of Wyoming

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Wyoming

  • 11,479enrollment
  • $12,224net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 10

Colorado State University Fort Collins
C
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 32,586enrollment
  • $17,609net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

University of Colorado Denver
C
Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 24,267enrollment
  • $15,585net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1