Top Rated West Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the West for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the West as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 as the best public college in the West is University of California Los Angeles. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
West Public 4 year

66 results

Oregon State University
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O
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 34,292enrollment
  • $21,163net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Western Washington University
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W
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 14,747enrollment
  • $21,105net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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Washington State University
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W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 27,539enrollment
  • $17,911net price
  • 83%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

#4 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 23,744enrollment
  • $16,079net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT 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

#1 Best Value in Nevada

  • 20,945enrollment
  • $16,670net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 7

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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

#1 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $16,045net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Oregon Institute of Technology
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O
Klamath Falls, OR
 

Oregon Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 4,911enrollment
  • $17,283net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1255SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 4

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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

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 38,973enrollment
  • $9,346net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Utah State University
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U
Logan, UT

Utah State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Utah

  • 27,943enrollment
  • $14,577net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1300SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

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The Evergreen State College
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E
Olympia, WA

The Evergreen State College

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 2,105enrollment
  • $16,318net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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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

#12 Best Public Universities in California

  • 27,503enrollment
  • $12,480net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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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

#13 Best Public Universities in California

  • 35,751enrollment
  • $14,219net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.35Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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University of Idaho
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I
Moscow, ID

University of Idaho

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Idaho

  • 11,507enrollment
  • $14,954net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 990-1250SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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Montana State University
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M
Bozeman, MT

Montana State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Montana

  • 16,681enrollment
  • $17,250net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 20-27ACT 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

#14 Best Public Universities in California

  • 9,103enrollment
  • $13,549net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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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

#2 Best Colleges in Nevada

  • 30,660enrollment
  • $13,159net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1220SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Central Washington University
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C
Ellensburg, WA

Central Washington University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 9,257enrollment
  • $15,864net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 930-1150SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.08Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 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

#5 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 11,431enrollment
  • $16,990net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1015-1215SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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