The Best Value Western Colleges

Best Value Colleges in West for 2024

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the West based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2024 as the overall best value college in the West is Stanford University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $18,279 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Washington Seattle Campus. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
West Public Private 4 year

126 results

Stanford University
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Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Value 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 Value 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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Pomona College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value 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 California Los Angeles
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C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Value 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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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Value 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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University of California San Diego
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C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Value 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 Berkeley
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C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Value 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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University of California Davis
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C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value in the West

  • 39,679enrollment
  • $17,385net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Santa Barbara
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C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Value in the West

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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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

#10 Best Value 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 Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Value 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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University of California Riverside
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C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Value in the West

  • 26,809enrollment
  • $14,487net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Southern California
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Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#13 Best Value in the West

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

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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

#14 Best Value in the West

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Reed College
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R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value 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

#16 Best Value 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 the Pacific
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Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Value in the West

  • 6,277enrollment
  • $28,164net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1423SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Westminster College
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W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Value in the West

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $27,068net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1166-1373SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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