Top Rated West Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the West for 2025

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the West as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2025 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

Western Washington University
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W
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Washington

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

Applications Due Jan 31

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Oregon State University
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O
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Oregon

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

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

  • 26,490enrollment
  • $18,155net price
  • 85%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

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $15,303net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT 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

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

Applications Due Apr 7

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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

  • 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

#3 Best Value Colleges in Utah

  • 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

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 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

#1 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 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

#12 Best Public Universities in California

  • 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

#1 Best Value in Idaho

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

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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

  • 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

#14 Best Public Universities in California

  • 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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Sonoma State University
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S
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in California

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

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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

  • 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

#5 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 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

#3 Best Colleges in Montana

  • 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

#16 Best Public Universities in California

  • 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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