Best Western Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the West for 2024

There are 607 colleges and universities in the West enrolling 4,069,594 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the West below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in West offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  West is home to nationally ranked institutions like Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College. The highest ranked college in the West is Stanford University and the top rated public state college is University of California Los Angeles.

West Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

607 results

List of the Best West Colleges

Stanford University
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Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in the West

  • 18,283enrollment
  • $18,279net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,389enrollment
  • $28,701net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Pomona College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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University of Southern California
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Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in the West

  • 48,945enrollment
  • $36,808net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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Scripps College
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S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,099enrollment
  • $43,923net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of California Los Angeles
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C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in the West

  • 46,430enrollment
  • $16,999net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Santa Clara University
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S
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,178enrollment
  • $50,551net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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University of California Berkeley
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C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in the West

  • 45,307enrollment
  • $19,257net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Loyola Marymount University
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L
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,165enrollment
  • $52,815net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Occidental College
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $44,853net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Reed College
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R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,534enrollment
  • $33,106net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

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Colorado College
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C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,203enrollment
  • $33,178net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Denver
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D
Denver, CO

University of Denver

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in the West

  • 13,734enrollment
  • $42,423net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Whitman College
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W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,493enrollment
  • $39,935net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1293-1473SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Washington Seattle Campus
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W
Seattle, WA

University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in the West

  • 52,319enrollment
  • $10,603net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1453SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 16

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University of California San Diego
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C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in the West

  • 42,006enrollment
  • $16,111net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in the West

  • 35,937enrollment
  • $14,033net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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