The Best Western Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the West for 2024

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 2024 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
West small Public Private 4 year

36 results

California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,389enrollment
  • $28,701net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Pomona College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Scripps College
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S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,099enrollment
  • $43,923net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Occidental College
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $44,853net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Reed College
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R
Portland, OR

Reed College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Oregon

  • 1,534enrollment
  • $33,106net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

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Colorado College
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C
Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Colorado

  • 2,203enrollment
  • $33,178net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Whitman College
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W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,493enrollment
  • $39,935net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1293-1473SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Westmont College
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W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $33,112net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1458SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Westminster College
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W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Utah

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $27,068net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1166-1373SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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University of Puget Sound
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P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,023enrollment
  • $41,363net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Linfield University
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L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 1,754enrollment
  • $31,585net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Saint Marys College of California
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S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,765enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Whittier College
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W
Whittier, CA

Whittier College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,192enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Whitworth University
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W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,415enrollment
  • $28,299net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1350SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Pacific Lutheran University
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P
Tacoma, WA

Pacific Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,633enrollment
  • $24,825net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1253-1423SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Northwest University
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N
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $23,722net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Otis College of Art and Design
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,312enrollment
  • $48,198net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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