Best value colleges in the West

Colleges in the West with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price after aid, earnings and debt.

Best value colleges in the West103 schools

103 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
In the West (U.S. Census Bureau region).
Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Value, highest first.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $13,807 a year
2
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $12,548 a year
3
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $13,481 a year
4
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Utah
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $15,564 a year
5
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $12,470 a year
6
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · Public
#2 in New Mexico
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $9,873 a year
7
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $14,741 a year
8
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Washington
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $14,091 a year
9
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $14,251 a year
9
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $10,440 a year
11
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $16,109 a year
12
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $19,285 a year
13
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public
Top 20% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $11,983 a year
14
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
Top 13% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $14,304 a year
15
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $16,665 a year
16
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- Net price $15,364 a year
17
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · Public
Top 16% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- Net price $14,971 a year
18
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
Top 14% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $17,890 a year
19
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT · Public
#2 in Utah
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $16,200 a year
20
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
#3 in Arizona
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- Net price $14,967 a year
21
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY · Public
Good: Compass grade B
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- Net price $13,599 a year
22
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI · Public
Very good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- Net price $15,664 a year
23
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public
#2 in Arizona
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- Net price $16,674 a year
24
Regis University
Denver, CO · Private nonprofit
Top 13% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- Net price $18,397 a year
25
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 4% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
- Net price $18,260 a year

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
University of California-Berkeley	$13,481	$13,000	$92,446	93%
Brigham Young University	$15,564	$11,069	$75,790	81%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	$9,873	$19,085	$76,489	57%
University of California-Davis	$14,741	$13,000	$80,838	86%
University of Washington-Seattle Campus	$14,091	$14,615	$78,466	85%
University of California-Irvine	$14,251	$15,000	$80,735	87%
California State University-Long Beach	$10,440	$14,289	$64,403	69%
University of California-Santa Barbara	$16,109	$13,993	$74,915	83%
Pomona College	$19,285	$11,782	$77,779	93%
University of California-Merced	$11,983	$16,144	$64,368	69%
University of California-Riverside	$14,304	$17,500	$67,699	76%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	$16,665	$18,500	$90,768	86%
San Diego State University	$15,364	$15,000	$64,909	76%
Washington State University	$14,971	$19,500	$68,905	61%
University of California-Santa Cruz	$17,890	$16,666	$68,396	75%
University of Utah	$16,200	$19,000	$67,170	65%
Arizona State University Campus Immersion	$14,967	$19,500	$62,668	68%
University of Wyoming	$13,599	$18,000	$56,880	59%
University of Hawaii at Manoa	$15,664	$18,500	$57,624	64%
University of Arizona	$16,674	$19,620	$59,979	68%
Regis University	$18,397	$25,000	$72,105	61%
Soka University of America	$18,260	$15,650	$55,017	92%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

By state

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Best value colleges in the West

How this list is made

Stanford University

University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Berkeley

Brigham Young University

University of California-San Diego

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

University of California-Davis

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

University of California-Irvine

California State University-Long Beach

University of California-Santa Barbara

Pomona College

University of California-Merced

University of California-Riverside

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Diego State University

Washington State University

University of California-Santa Cruz

University of Utah

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

University of Wyoming

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Arizona

Regis University

Soka University of America

Compare cost and outcomes

By state

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