Best Colleges 2023

Best Colleges in the West

More than half of the top-scoring schools in the western half of the country are public universities. Here’s a look at the best in the region.
Stars
College Name
Acceptance Rate
Est. Full Price 2023-24
Est. Price with Average Grant
Graduation Rate

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA

4% $83,800 $32,300 94%

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA

33% $31,100 $22,200 83%

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA

61% $29,500 $13,900 76%

California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo, CA

82% $28,600 $18,100 68%

California State University, Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA

85% $26,100 $7,900 55%

California State University, Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA

93% $29,200 $15,500 70%

California State University, Chico

Chico, CA

85% $27,400 $14,700 74%

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA

90% $27,200 $4,800 63%

California State University, East Bay

Hayward, CA

82% $27,900 $13,500 68%

California State University, Fresno

Fresno, CA

97% $23,400 $6,800 67%

California State University, Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

59% $29,400 $5,300 76%

California State University, Long Beach

Long Beach, CA

47% $26,200 $9,800 81%

California State University, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

91% $29,300 $2,900 65%

California State University, Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA

93% $22,500 $6,500 72%

California State University, Northridge

Northridge, CA

88% $24,300 $9,300 66%

California State University, Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

94% $29,400 $8,300 68%

California State University, San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA

91% $26,000 $3,500 67%

California State University, San Marcos

San Marcos, CA

93% $25,800 $15,300 63%

California State University, Stanislaus

Turlock, CA

95% $24,700 $7,800 70%

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA

11% $82,500 $23,200 91%

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO

57% $40,000 $28,100 81%

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA

78% $48,100 $16,500 69%

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA

76% $69,900 $38,100 84%

Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, CA

10% $86,200 $36,300 91%

Linfield University-McMinnville Campus

McMinnville, OR

85% $65,200 $30,800 74%

Pomona College

Claremont, CA

7% $81,400 $18,200 93%

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA

70% $74,700 $26,800 77%

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

38% $33,000 $7,400 79%

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

93% $28,800 $14,600 67%

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

84% $30,800 $15,700 71%

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

54% $80,200 $52,000 91%

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA

94% $28,000 $7,600 69%

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

4% $82,700 $15,400 94%

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

14% $43,500 $18,900 93%

University of California, Davis

Davis, CA

49% $39,400 $17,800 88%

University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA

29% $38,000 $12,500 86%

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

11% $38,000 $14,400 92%

University of California, Merced

Merced, CA

87% $40,100 $12,400 71%

University of California, Riverside

Riverside, CA

65% $38,200 $14,500 79%

University of California, San Diego

La Jolla, CA

34% $37,900 $16,800 88%

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

29% $39,500 $18,600 85%

University of Portland

Portland, OR

81% $70,900 $38,100 82%

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA

83% $77,300 $23,100 74%

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA

53% $76,700 $36,600 81%

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

13% $85,600 $27,900 91%

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA

79% $73,900 $22,800 72%

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

95% $25,400 $13,900 63%

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA

53% $32,100 $9,300 84%

Washington State University

Pullman, WA

86% $30,100 $12,700 65%

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA

96% $27,900 $12,200 72%
No results match.
TOP