Top Rated West Public Colleges
These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the West as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the best public college in the West is University of California Berkeley. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
California State University San Bernardino
- Public 4 Year
- San Bernardino, CA
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- Nov 30 application deadline
CSUSB is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and criminal justice. The campus sits at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- SAT Range 910-1080
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $5,231
California State University Northridge
- Public 4 Year
- Northridge, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
CSUN is a large public university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and education. The suburban campus lies in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
- SAT Range 900-1110
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $7,536
Boise State University
- Public 4 Year
- Boise, ID
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- Aug 1 application deadline
Boise State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Boise River in Idaho's capital city.
- SAT Range 1030-1210
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $21,583
Colorado Mesa University
- Public 4 Year
- Grand Junction, CO
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Colorado Mesa is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and outdoor recreation. The Grand Junction campus sits on Colorado's Western Slope near the Colorado National Monument.
- SAT Range 930-1160
- Avg GPA 3.28
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $15,590
Southern Oregon University
- Public 4 Year
- Ashland, OR
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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
Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Public 4 Year
- Denver, CO
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- Jul 1 application deadline
MSU Denver is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, aviation, and business. Most students commute to the shared Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
- SAT Range 880-1130
- Avg GPA 3.03
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $14,584
California State University Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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- Jan 19 application deadline
Cal State LA is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 870-1060
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $4,460
Lewis Clark State College
- Public 4 Year
- Lewiston, ID
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1.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 8 application deadline
Lewis-Clark State is a small public college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and business. The campus is in Lewiston at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers.
- SAT Range 850-1110
- Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $15,917
University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Public 4 Year
- Fairbanks, AK
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- Jun 15 application deadline
UAF is a public university known for undergraduate arctic science, geosciences, and engineering. The Fairbanks campus lies in subarctic Interior Alaska.
- SAT Range 1110-1360
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,278
Adams State University
- Public 4 Year
- Alamosa, CO
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Adams State is a small public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The campus sits in rural Alamosa in Colorado's San Luis Valley.
- SAT Range 910-1130
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $13,340
Western Colorado University
- Public 4 Year
- Gunnison, CO
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Western Colorado is a small public university known for undergraduate outdoor recreation, environmental studies, and exercise science. Gunnison is a high-elevation mountain town in the Colorado Rockies.
- SAT Range 1163-1353
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $17,711
The University of Montana Western
- Public 4 Year
- Dillon, MT
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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