Best Western Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the West for 2025

There are 604 colleges and universities in the West enrolling 4,237,965 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

604 results

List of the Best West Colleges

Azusa Pacific University
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A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#37 Best Colleges in the West

  • 6,487enrollment
  • $26,117net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 994-1314SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Linfield University
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L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,726enrollment
  • $31,462net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Utah
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U
Salt Lake City, UT

University of Utah

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#39 Best Colleges in the West

  • 35,260enrollment
  • $13,341net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1398SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Seattle Pacific University
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S
Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,659enrollment
  • $26,155net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 11

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#41 Best Colleges in the West

  • 19,764enrollment
  • $16,526net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Point Loma Nazarene University
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P
San Diego, CA

Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#42 Best Colleges in the West

  • 4,494enrollment
  • $36,370net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1410SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Willamette University
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W
Salem, OR

Willamette University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#43 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,112enrollment
  • $27,716net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Regis University
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R
Denver, CO

Regis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#44 Best Colleges in the West

  • 4,631enrollment
  • $25,062net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Biola University
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B
La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#45 Best Colleges in the West

  • 5,296enrollment
  • $30,510net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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University of California Riverside
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C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#46 Best Colleges in the West

  • 26,426enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Saint Marys College of California
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S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#47 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,775enrollment
  • $31,615net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#48 Best Colleges in the West

  • 19,256enrollment
  • $14,557net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Dominican University of California
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D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#49 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,026enrollment
  • $51,292net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1291SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Whitworth University
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W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,345enrollment
  • $27,491net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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University of Wyoming
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W
Laramie, WY

University of Wyoming

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#51 Best Colleges in the West

  • 10,913enrollment
  • $13,299net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 10

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San Diego State University
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S
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#52 Best Colleges in the West

  • 39,241enrollment
  • $19,500net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Oregon
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O
Eugene, OR

University of Oregon

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#53 Best Colleges in the West

  • 23,786enrollment
  • $23,917net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Colorado State University Fort Collins
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C
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#54 Best Colleges in the West

  • 33,500enrollment
  • $19,828net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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