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

California Lutheran University
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C
Thousand Oaks, CA

California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#55 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,615enrollment
  • $30,416net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Pacific University
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P
Forest Grove, OR

Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#56 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $33,472net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1350SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

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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

#57 Best Colleges in the West

  • 33,403enrollment
  • $16,926net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Northwest University
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N
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#58 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $23,722net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Oregon State University
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O
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#59 Best Colleges in the West

  • 34,292enrollment
  • $21,163net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Otis College of Art and Design
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#60 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,312enrollment
  • $48,198net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Western Washington University
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W
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#61 Best Colleges in the West

  • 14,747enrollment
  • $21,105net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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Washington State University
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W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#62 Best Colleges in the West

  • 27,539enrollment
  • $17,911net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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University of Colorado Denver
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C
Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#63 Best Colleges in the West

  • 23,744enrollment
  • $16,079net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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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

#64 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,877enrollment
  • $49,907net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1088-1236SAT range
  • 23-25ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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George Fox University
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G
Newberg, OR

George Fox University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#65 Best Colleges in the West

  • 4,028enrollment
  • $28,840net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Brigham Young University Hawaii
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B
Laie, HI

Brigham Young University Hawaii

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#66 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,735enrollment
  • $15,835net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1023-1236SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.47Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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The College of Idaho
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I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#67 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,082enrollment
  • $24,075net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Nevada Reno
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N
Reno, NV

University of Nevada Reno

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#68 Best Colleges in the West

  • 20,945enrollment
  • $16,670net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 7

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Carroll College
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C
Helena, MT

Carroll College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#69 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,168enrollment
  • $23,916net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1200SAT range
  • 13-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 28

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Montana Tech of the University of Montana
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M
Butte, MT
 

Montana Tech of the University of Montana

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#70 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $16,045net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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William Jessup University
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W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#71 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $27,591net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Concordia University Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#72 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,744enrollment
  • $29,508net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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