The Best Western Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the West for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the West as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


36 results

California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $23,397net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Claremont McKenna College
C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,384enrollment
  • $29,978net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,664enrollment
  • $17,423net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Scripps College
S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,103enrollment
  • $45,505net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Colorado College
C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Colorado

  • 2,173enrollment
  • $35,281net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1365-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

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

Applications Due Jan 10

Reed College
R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,458enrollment
  • $36,993net price
  • 27%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Whitman College
W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington

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

Applications Due Jan 15

Westmont College
W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,310enrollment
  • $36,412net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1212-1418SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Westminster College
W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Utah

  • 1,214enrollment
  • $28,156net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1148-1378SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

University of Puget Sound
P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

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

Applications Due Jan 15

Linfield University
L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

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

Applications Due Feb 1

Seattle Pacific University
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,659enrollment
  • $26,155net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 11

Willamette University
W
Salem, OR

Willamette University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Oregon

  • 2,112enrollment
  • $27,716net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Saint Marys College of California
S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,775enrollment
  • $31,615net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Dominican University of California
D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,026enrollment
  • $51,292net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1291SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Whitworth University
W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,345enrollment
  • $27,491net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Otis College of Art and Design
O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $49,440net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA