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Top West Coast Colleges
Written by
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
Full BioLearn about our editorial policies
The West Coast is home to many of America’s finest colleges and universities. California residents can enjoy in-state tuition at some of the nation’s most prestigious public universities. And schools like Reed and Claremont McKenna offer world-class liberal arts education to students. Compare the top West Coast colleges below by size, cost, admissions rate, graduation rate, and more:
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Top College
Top College: Affordability
Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind
Stanford, CA
Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind
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Top College
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Claremont, CA
Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Public, City
Berkeley, CA
Public, City
Top College
Top College: Affordability
Pomona College
Claremont, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind
Claremont, CA
Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind
Top College
Top College: Affordability
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Claremont, CA
Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Public, City
Los Angeles, CA
Public, City
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA • Public, City
La Jolla, CA
Public, City
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind
Pasadena, CA
Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA • Public, City
Irvine, CA
Public, City
Top College
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private, Non-Profit, City
Los Angeles, CA
Private, Non-Profit, City
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA • Public, City
Seattle, WA
Public, City
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA • Public, Suburb
Davis, CA
Public, Suburb
Top College
Top College: Affordability
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Public, Suburb
San Luis Obispo, CA
Public, Suburb
Top College
Top College: Affordability
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind
Aliso Viejo, CA
Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind
Top College
Top College: Affordability
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA • Public, Suburb
Santa Barbara, CA
Public, Suburb
Top College
Top College: Affordability
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Claremont, CA
Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top College
Top College: Affordability
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Public, City
San Diego, CA
Public, City
Top College
Top College: Affordability
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Public, City
Long Beach, CA
Public, City
Top College
Top College: Affordability
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Public, Suburb
Fullerton, CA
Public, Suburb
Top College
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA • Private, Non-Profit, City
Santa Clara, CA
Private, Non-Profit, City
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About the Data
We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.
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