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.


124 results

California State Polytechnic University Pomona
C
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#55 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Colorado Denver
C
Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#56 Best Value 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

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#57 Best Value in the West

  • 41,432enrollment
  • $22,640net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1420SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Colorado School of Mines
C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#58 Best Value in the West

  • 7,599enrollment
  • $29,785net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Colorado State University Fort Collins
C
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#59 Best Value in the West

  • 33,500enrollment
  • $19,828net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

University of Hawaii at Manoa
H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#60 Best Value in the West

  • 19,256enrollment
  • $14,557net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Concordia University Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#61 Best Value in the West

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

William Jessup University
W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#62 Best Value in the West

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

Oregon Institute of Technology
O
Klamath Falls, OR
 

Oregon Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#63 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Sep 4

Oregon State University
O
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#64 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Puget Sound
P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#65 Best Value in the West

  • 1,914enrollment
  • $42,301net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

San Jose State University
S
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#66 Best Value 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

University of Nevada Reno
N
Reno, NV

University of Nevada Reno

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#67 Best Value in the West

  • 21,778enrollment
  • $16,801net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 7

George Fox University
G
Newberg, OR

George Fox University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#68 Best Value in the West

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

Pacific University
P
Forest Grove, OR

Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#69 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Aug 25

Western Washington University
W
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#70 Best Value in the West

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

Applications Due Jan 31

Loyola Marymount University
L
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#71 Best Value in the West

  • 10,256enrollment
  • $54,471net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Point Loma Nazarene University
P
San Diego, CA

Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#72 Best Value in the West

  • 4,494enrollment
  • $36,370net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1410SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15