The Best Value Western Colleges

Best Value Colleges in West for 2025

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 2025 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 2025 as the overall best value college in the West is Stanford University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $17,998 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

124 results

Linfield University
Connect Me
L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Seattle University
Connect Me
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#38 Best Value in the West

  • 7,182enrollment
  • $37,103net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Wyoming
Connect Me
W
Laramie, WY

University of Wyoming

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#39 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Aug 10

Compare Calculate my chances 
California State University Long Beach
Connect Me
C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#40 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Denver
Connect Me
D
Denver, CO

University of Denver

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#41 Best Value in the West

  • 13,387enrollment
  • $43,324net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
The College of Idaho
Connect Me
I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#42 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Feb 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Carroll College
Connect Me
C
Helena, MT

Carroll College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#43 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Feb 28

Compare Calculate my chances 
Whitman College
Connect Me
W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#44 Best Value in the West

  • 1,544enrollment
  • $41,601net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Biola University
Connect Me
B
La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#45 Best Value in the West

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

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lewis & Clark College
Connect Me
L
Portland, OR

Lewis & Clark College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#46 Best Value in the West

  • 3,526enrollment
  • $38,247net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Utah State University
Connect Me
U
Logan, UT

Utah State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#47 Best Value in the West

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

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mount St. Mary's College
Connect Me
M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#48 Best Value in the West

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

Compare Calculate my chances 
Occidental College
Connect Me
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#49 Best Value in the West

  • 1,854enrollment
  • $47,113net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of San Francisco
Connect Me
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Value in the West

  • 9,212enrollment
  • $44,104net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Washington State University
Connect Me
W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#51 Best Value in the West

  • 26,490enrollment
  • $18,155net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chapman University
Connect Me
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#52 Best Value in the West

  • 9,961enrollment
  • $48,037net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Santa Clara University
Connect Me
S
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#53 Best Value in the West

  • 9,340enrollment
  • $49,651net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

Compare Calculate my chances 
Gonzaga University
Connect Me
G
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#54 Best Value in the West

  • 7,306enrollment
  • $40,295net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances