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

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

  • 3,413enrollment
  • $27,080net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1134-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Western Washington University
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W
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#56 Best Colleges in the West

  • 14,651enrollment
  • $22,096net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1350SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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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

#57 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $49,440net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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University of La Verne
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L
La Verne, CA

University of La Verne

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#58 Best Colleges in the West

  • 5,596enrollment
  • $27,216net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 970-1303SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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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

  • 35,622enrollment
  • $21,868net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Washington State University
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W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#60 Best Colleges in the West

  • 26,490enrollment
  • $18,155net price
  • 85%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

#61 Best Colleges in the West

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $15,303net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Nevada Reno
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N
Reno, NV

University of Nevada Reno

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#62 Best Colleges in the West

  • 21,778enrollment
  • $16,801net price
  • 85%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

#63 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,103enrollment
  • $26,103net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 28

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Pacific University
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P
Forest Grove, OR

Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#64 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,479enrollment
  • $34,809net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 990-1240SAT range
  • 17-28ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

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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

  • 4,531enrollment
  • $30,649net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1330SAT range
  • 17-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Pacific Lutheran University
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P
Tacoma, WA

Pacific Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#66 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,737enrollment
  • $23,841net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 988-1258SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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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

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $22,602net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Concordia University Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#68 Best Colleges in the West

  • 3,481enrollment
  • $29,413net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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William Jessup University
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W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#69 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,484enrollment
  • $28,171net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg 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

#70 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,836enrollment
  • $17,887net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 985-1191SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.47Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Mount St. Mary's College
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M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#71 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,308enrollment
  • $27,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Fresno Pacific University
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F
Fresno, CA

Fresno Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#72 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,921enrollment
  • $15,668net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 970-1240SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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