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

Oregon Institute of Technology
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O
Klamath Falls, OR
 

Oregon Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#73 Best Colleges in the West

  • 5,103enrollment
  • $17,274net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1045-1300SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 4

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Utah State University
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U
Logan, UT

Utah State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#74 Best Colleges in the West

  • 28,063enrollment
  • $15,825net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1300SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

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California State University Long Beach
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C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#75 Best Colleges in the West

  • 40,278enrollment
  • $9,731net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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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

#76 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,622enrollment
  • $15,866net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1250SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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University of California Merced
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C
Merced, CA

University of California Merced

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#77 Best Colleges in the West

  • 9,147enrollment
  • $13,232net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Idaho
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I
Moscow, ID

University of Idaho

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#78 Best Colleges in the West

  • 11,849enrollment
  • $14,377net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 950-1200SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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Northwest Nazarene University
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N
Nampa, ID

Northwest Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#79 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,774enrollment
  • $27,291net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 940-1210SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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San Jose State University
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S
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#80 Best Colleges in the West

  • 36,062enrollment
  • $13,833net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.35Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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California State Polytechnic University Pomona
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C
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#81 Best Colleges in the West

  • 26,848enrollment
  • $11,898net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Saint Martin's University
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S
Lacey, WA

Saint Martin's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#82 Best Colleges in the West

  • 1,505enrollment
  • $22,779net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 14-22ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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Chaminade University of Honolulu
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C
Honolulu, HI

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#83 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,602enrollment
  • $27,695net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1085-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Sonoma State University
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S
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#84 Best Colleges in the West

  • 5,990enrollment
  • $15,113net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Vanguard University of Southern California
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V
Costa Mesa, CA
 

Vanguard University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#85 Best Colleges in the West

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,273net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Hawaii Pacific University
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H
Honolulu, HI

Hawaii Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#86 Best Colleges in the West

  • 4,748enrollment
  • $32,204net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1068-1280SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 6

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University of Nevada Las Vegas
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N
Las Vegas, NV

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#87 Best Colleges in the West

  • 31,094enrollment
  • $11,388net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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C
Colorado Springs, CO

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#88 Best Colleges in the West

  • 11,213enrollment
  • $16,816net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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Montana State University
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M
Bozeman, MT

Montana State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#89 Best Colleges in the West

  • 16,960enrollment
  • $18,511net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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California State University Chico
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C
Chico, CA

California State University Chico

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#90 Best Colleges in the West

  • 14,523enrollment
  • $15,187net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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