The Best Western Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the West for 2023

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the West as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2023 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


31 results

California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,397enrollment
  • $26,591net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Claremont McKenna College
C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,422enrollment
  • $22,004net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,764enrollment
  • $30,392net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Scripps College
S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,116enrollment
  • $40,259net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,964enrollment
  • $41,102net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Whitman College
W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,559enrollment
  • $38,989net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1295-1455SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Westmont College
W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,238enrollment
  • $32,418net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1460SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Westminster College
W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Utah

  • 1,535enrollment
  • $25,278net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

University of Puget Sound
P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,173enrollment
  • $38,127net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1370SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Linfield University
L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,297enrollment
  • $28,517net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Northwest University
N
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 1,083enrollment
  • $21,825net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 985-1210SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Whittier College
W
Whittier, CA

Whittier College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,387enrollment
  • $28,647net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Otis College of Art and Design
O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,252enrollment
  • $46,876net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Pacific Lutheran University
P
Tacoma, WA

Pacific Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,706enrollment
  • $25,368net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1376SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Dominican University of California
D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,855enrollment
  • $36,899net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1063-1275SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Whitworth University
W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,681enrollment
  • $25,785net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

The College of Idaho
I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Idaho

  • 1,145enrollment
  • $21,343net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1246SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Carroll College
C
Helena, MT

Carroll College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Montana

  • 1,121enrollment
  • $24,037net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 28