2020 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: West

Below are our rankings of America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges—our exclusive list of schools ranked according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. The list is created by isolating the social mobility metrics from the main rankings of four-year institutions. Click here for detailed methodology, here for all of our other rankings, and here to download the full data set.

Rank	Name	8-year graduation rate	Pell/non-Pell grad rate gap	Number of Pell graduates	First-gen students	Median earnings 10 years after entering college	Predicted median earnings 10 yrs after entering college	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	% repaying $1 in loan principal 5 yrs after leaving coll.
1	CA State University–Stanislaus (CA)*	68%	0%	390	57%	45128	39031	4982	69%
2	University of Washington–Tacoma (WA)*	77%	3%	76	32%	56553	46551	5839	81%
3	CA State University–Los Angeles (CA)*	63%	-2%	906	60%	45395	42201	3223	61%
4	Stanford University (CA)	96%	-3%	246	27%	90397	75018	1875	90%
5	CA State Univ.–San Bernardino (CA)*	66%	-4%	836	59%	45585	39267	6486	53%
6	CA State University–Northridge (CA)*	66%	-10%	1367	52%	44887	42738	5554	65%
7	Utah State University (UT)*	58%	14%	472	28%	43501	32640	11936	79%
8	Brigham Young University (UT)	94%	-10%	442	12%	59116	44366	10658	85%
9	CA State University–Bakersfield (CA)*	54%	-4%	343	57%	47958	37676	5034	57%
10	CA State University–Long Beach (CA)*	77%	-6%	1356	47%	48229	50431	7450	75%
11	CA State University–Sacramento (CA)*	65%	-5%	768	47%	48391	44596	7614	70%
12	Brigham Young University–Idaho (ID)	65%	-7%	207	23%	41302	41418	6201	79%
13	University of California–Davis (CA)*	86%	-4%	1596	39%	58168	56569	11281	83%
14	CA State Univ.–Dominguez Hills (CA)*	58%	-6%	357	57%	44514	41221	3036	53%
15	Touro College Los Angeles (CA)	53%	50%	3	41%	N/A	41661	17681	N/A
16	California State Univ.–Fullerton (CA)*	72%	-5%	1172	47%	46522	51947	6280	73%
17	CA State University–Chico (CA)*	71%	-9%	575	44%	46989	43847	11421	72%
18	University of California–Irvine (CA)*	88%	-4%	1938	44%	57166	60396	10477	78%
19	CA State Univ.–Channel Islands (CA)*	72%	-5%	162	48%	N/A	43553	13299	71%
20	Claremont McKenna College (CA)	92%	1%	30	N/A	72913	60336	12575	N/A
21	CA State Univ.–Maritime Academy (CA)*	62%	-14%	24	22%	82123	60956	13393	83%
22	CA State Poly. Univ.–Pomona (CA)*	74%	-4%	915	47%	53017	57668	10539	76%
23	CA State University–Fresno (CA)*	68%	-11%	936	51%	44585	38233	4876	67%
24	Providence Christian College (CA)	73%	29%	3	N/A	N/A	28556	21555	N/A
25	Evergreen State College (WA)*	68%	-4%	89	30%	34144	26943	10536	66%
26	University of Washington–Bothell (WA)*	80%	1%	129	32%	56553	57353	6877	81%
27	University of California–Los Angeles (CA)*	93%	-5%	1549	36%	60930	63087	9586	81%
28	Univ. of California–Merced (CA)*	69%	-6%	558	54%	N/A	47427	11063	67%
29	University of California–San Diego (CA)*	88%	-3%	1224	38%	60421	65998	10123	85%
30	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	51%	37%	14	43%	40039	46491	8050	63%
31	CA State Univ.–Monterey Bay (CA)*	60%	-1%	262	47%	43306	42932	9260	71%
32	University of CA–Santa Barbara (CA)*	84%	-4%	1397	41%	54170	58555	11617	76%
33	CA Poly. St. U.–San Luis Obispo (CA)*	80%	-9%	537	25%	65260	59743	14496	88%
34	CA State University–San Marcos (CA)*	63%	-3%	343	46%	46899	45740	8689	67%
35	Fresno Pacific University (CA)	67%	7%	67	46%	41868	40332	15991	61%
36	University of California–Riverside (CA)*	75%	-1%	1642	45%	49073	53448	9468	69%
37	Harvey Mudd College (CA)	92%	1%	27	N/A	78218	66278	17809	N/A
38	Washington State University (WA)*	69%	-10%	720	34%	49921	43068	11728	79%
39	Central Washington University (WA)*	62%	-5%	276	39%	46251	43479	11159	70%
40	Arizona State–West (AZ)*	69%	-8%	93	37%	N/A	41704	7033	63%
41	University of California–Berkeley (CA)*	93%	3%	972	34%	63737	69259	10055	79%
42	Pomona College (CA)	95%	0%	65	26%	56501	60886	6376	N/A
43	University of Washington–Seattle (WA)*	84%	-6%	1060	32%	56553	60442	7404	81%
44	Arizona State–Polytechnic (AZ)*	67%	-3%	74	37%	N/A	49105	9022	63%
45	Utah Valley University (UT)*	38%	-7%	174	27%	44321	35636	7103	68%
46	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	54%	0%	67	39%	54948	55276	14787	76%
47	Western Washington University (WA)*	74%	-6%	385	27%	45535	45209	12073	77%
48	University of Southern California (CA)	92%	-2%	309	23%	72163	67791	17616	85%
49	CA State University–East Bay (CA)*	63%	-6%	331	49%	52219	52456	9576	65%
50	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	78%	1%	25	N/A	38184	33178	17492	90%
51	Trident University International (CA)°	69%	-2%	6	52%	N/A	59088	12986	52%
52	San Jose State University (CA)*	70%	-5%	854	47%	55644	61735	12312	77%
53	Southern Utah University (UT)*	53%	-8%	119	32%	39581	37160	12843	74%
54	University of the Pacific (CA)	74%	4%	168	34%	71195	57970	23714	76%
55	Mills College (CA)	73%	8%	47	31%	40336	40640	19970	71%
56	Sonoma State University (CA)*	67%	-10%	262	40%	47151	45854	13477	71%
57	University of Redlands (CA)	72%	3%	144	34%	53969	53157	23648	77%
58	University of Utah (UT)*	71%	-13%	349	28%	52233	48802	12058	78%
59	Saint Martin's University (WA)	62%	-10%	49	34%	46927	44792	17822	75%
60	Eastern Washington University (WA)*	58%	-7%	279	36%	43085	42517	9790	71%
61	Heritage University (WA)	45%	-18%	22	64%	33738	31969	9614	51%
62	San Francisco State University (CA)*	65%	-3%	872	46%	49145	55299	11801	66%
63	Western Oregon University (OR)*	48%	-1%	193	41%	39449	36486	13857	63%
64	Portland State University (OR)*	55%	-1%	257	39%	44137	42734	13221	64%
65	Eastern Oregon University (OR)*	43%	-14%	46	45%	39906	33233	12747	59%
66	Arizona State University (AZ)*	66%	-12%	1248	37%	47030	47557	8888	63%
67	Colorado School of Mines (CO)*	76%	-7%	105	17%	82561	74235	18897	89%
68	William Jessup University (CA)	69%	-3%	32	33%	37830	40378	18849	73%
69	University of Arizona (AZ)*	62%	-9%	1274	31%	46651	46207	12959	72%
70	Soka University of America (CA)	85%	-8%	31	N/A	N/A	33192	9559	79%
71	California Institute of Technology (CA)	93%	-1%	24	N/A	80931	91065	5622	N/A
72	New Mexico Highlands Univ. (NM)*	38%	1%	57	45%	36453	33621	8825	51%
73	Willamette University (OR)	79%	-1%	83	18%	50883	45910	23052	88%
74	University of California–Santa Cruz (CA)*	81%	-5%	1252	36%	45455	60118	12185	77%
75	San Diego State University (CA)*	75%	-6%	856	40%	49917	54706	10880	70%
76	University of Wyoming (WY)*	59%	-13%	149	28%	47517	42413	10694	79%
77	Humboldt State University (CA)*	56%	-12%	248	43%	35899	37903	12170	62%
78	Mount St. Mary's Univ., Los Angeles (CA)	67%	7%	97	49%	52987	51571	26838	67%
79	California Lutheran University (CA)	70%	-2%	85	32%	53767	52267	22355	78%
80	Linfield College (OR)	69%	-8%	85	29%	54381	45426	22794	84%
81	Southern Oregon University (OR)*	46%	-10%	93	40%	38454	35311	7111	60%
82	Weber State University (UT)*	44%	-17%	103	37%	44241	41151	10435	73%
83	Montana State University–Northern (MT)*	37%	-14%	9	37%	35925	34887	11578	70%
84	Brigham Young University–Hawaii (HI)	64%	-15%	23	19%	42447	41093	10262	76%
85	Warner Pacific University (OR)	54%	-9%	18	45%	38153	33961	21394	59%
86	University of Oregon (OR)*	71%	-9%	631	27%	44133	43463	12966	69%
87	University of Portland (OR)	82%	-2%	154	19%	57568	56419	27315	90%
88	Arizona State–Downtown Phoenix (AZ)*	64%	-15%	235	37%	N/A	43372	9323	63%
89	Azusa Pacific University (CA)	69%	-1%	204	36%	51603	49352	22644	75%
90	University of Colorado–Denver (CO)*	51%	-3%	152	36%	57029	52272	12915	69%
91	University of Idaho (ID)*	58%	-7%	406	31%	41722	40052	12892	70%
92	Westminster College (UT)	65%	-9%	71	27%	48999	48651	19685	79%
93	Chaminade University of Honolulu (HI)	39%	-4%	56	41%	39389	38168	19162	58%
94	University of Nevada–Reno (NV)*	60%	-10%	411	38%	46626	48411	12442	73%
95	NM Inst. of Mining and Tech (NM)*	51%	-8%	45	28%	53547	54398	11581	83%
96	Pacific Lutheran University (WA)	71%	-18%	109	28%	48832	47253	19035	82%
97	Whittier College (CA)	67%	0%	99	34%	45564	49218	21015	78%
98	Univ. of Montana-Western (MT)*	45%	-9%	31	35%	30706	31158	10294	66%
99	University of Phoenix–Phoenix (AZ)°	28%	0%	126	54%	N/A	35768	15932	32%
100	Santa Clara University (CA)	87%	-3%	137	17%	71389	71095	21504	89%
101	University of La Verne (CA)	67%	-1%	186	48%	50493	51981	20166	58%
102	University of Northern Colorado (CO)*	53%	-11%	324	35%	41240	35977	15929	73%
103	Occidental College (CA)	85%	0%	91	17%	50643	56914	16624	91%
104	Embry-Riddle Aero. Univ.–Prescott (AZ)	62%	-12%	44	35%	64684	57577	29479	74%
105	Colorado State University (CO)*	67%	-9%	654	24%	46485	48880	13702	75%
106	Westmont College (CA)	77%	7%	58	17%	50149	50295	25057	89%
107	Prescott College (AZ)	53%	-2%	11	25%	33704	32458	18689	62%
108	University of Nevada–Las Vegas (NV)*	51%	-6%	449	42%	44582	43945	9504	59%
109	University of San Francisco (CA)	73%	3%	239	28%	62115	61639	23366	76%
110	Pacific Rim Christian Univ. (HI)	76%	0%	1	N/A	28098	28528	16505	58%
111	Nevada State College (NV)*	29%	-4%	15	48%	N/A	36157	12232	53%
112	Pepperdine University (CA)	84%	-1%	144	19%	63209	57637	27654	80%
113	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	47%	-10%	91	31%	35227	34702	14549	62%
114	Whitworth University (WA)	74%	-7%	92	23%	42275	44713	21175	77%
115	Oregon State University (OR)*	65%	-13%	594	31%	48487	51615	17157	74%
116	University of the West (CA)	52%	-10%	3	N/A	N/A	35902	10375	N/A
117	Alaska Pacific University (AK)	44%	-11%	4	N/A	43008	42152	16748	66%
118	Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)	73%	-9%	109	27%	50469	53198	25548	85%
119	Colorado College (CO)	87%	-2%	43	15%	43196	55110	7348	89%
120	Northern Arizona University (AZ)*	58%	-15%	579	38%	40335	39598	12391	59%
121	CO Technical Univ. (CO)°	29%	-9%	120	55%	48159	39141	17071	33%
122	Life Pacific University (CA)	54%	-7%	10	36%	30749	35485	18424	66%
123	Seattle Pacific University (WA)	72%	-12%	136	24%	48076	47865	24837	87%
124	Humphreys Univ–Stockton/Modesto (CA)	44%	-15%	6	56%	28975	27938	11830	31%
125	Northwest Christian University (OR)	60%	-31%	10	38%	43848	38763	17510	67%
126	Holy Names University (CA)	40%	8%	30	46%	50805	46966	19209	55%
127	University of Hawaii–Hilo (HI)*	42%	-4%	75	38%	36021	36692	12351	65%
128	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	77%	0%	106	16%	44528	49009	21710	89%
129	Warner Pacific Univ. Adult Program (OR)	60%	-30%	5	45%	38153	35966	17980	59%
130	Saint Mary’s College of California (CA)	72%	0%	124	26%	58331	57349	27143	78%
131	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	38%	-16%	45	41%	34613	39039	9953	62%
132	Scripps College (CA)	88%	7%	27	N/A	51566	57934	16361	91%
133	John Paul the Great Catholic Univ. (CA)	61%	-16%	5	N/A	N/A	37617	22850	N/A
134	Carroll College (MT)	64%	-12%	48	20%	45921	48862	21688	87%
135	Corban University (OR)	61%	-14%	52	24%	37159	39486	19806	75%
136	University of Hawaii–Manoa (HI)*	62%	-4%	311	34%	45054	52856	12651	76%
137	Montana Technological University (MT)*	49%	-11%	31	33%	42002	47811	11853	65%
138	University of Phoenix–Hawaii (HI)°	41%	-8%	12	54%	49935	48846	15133	32%
139	Northwest University (WA)	56%	-9%	40	36%	39942	45185	19740	76%
140	Gonzaga University (WA)	83%	-6%	157	14%	55538	56132	26554	89%
141	Sanford National University (CA)	38%	-20%	11	44%	59180	47153	24516	59%
142	La Sierra University (CA)	57%	-2%	49	39%	46070	46603	20559	66%
143	Sierra Nevada College (NV)	47%	20%	19	28%	44507	42394	26089	53%
144	Whitman College (WA)	88%	-4%	32	11%	48188	52523	21751	93%
145	Northwest Nazarene University (ID)	49%	-14%	46	32%	38001	40243	16334	76%
146	Univ. of CO–Colorado Springs (CO)*	51%	-7%	153	31%	42736	47458	13553	70%
147	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	47%	-14%	15	20%	82006	67679	34661	87%
148	Johnson & Wales Univ.–Denver (CO)	56%	-19%	46	34%	37662	37573	21707	68%
149	University of San Diego (CA)	79%	-2%	143	24%	59964	64213	25223	82%
150	Pitzer College (CA)	87%	-1%	27	20%	47943	55679	12432	77%
151	Pacific Union College (CA)	53%	-14%	41	26%	50208	46549	19056	69%
152	University of Colorado–Boulder (CO)*	70%	-11%	566	20%	49886	55507	16090	77%
153	Montana State Univ.–Billings (MT)*	33%	-8%	46	39%	34648	36223	12748	64%
154	Rocky Mountain College (MT)	47%	-8%	38	29%	39219	42507	16982	77%
155	University of Denver (CO)	75%	-3%	145	19%	55118	60225	21324	79%
156	University of Alaska Southeast (AK)*	31%	-1%	9	39%	37526	43529	8616	58%
157	University of Montana (MT)*	46%	-14%	214	30%	35567	34195	13712	66%
158	University of Alaska–Fairbanks (AK)*	35%	-13%	27	40%	38112	38597	9014	57%
159	Loyola Marymount University (CA)	81%	-6%	186	21%	58232	59451	30629	84%
160	University of Antelope Valley (CA)°	80%	-12%	28	54%	23612	37843	14888	24%
161	University of New Mexico–Main (NM)*	53%	-9%	527	41%	36144	40481	13696	58%
162	California Baptist University (CA)	63%	-18%	178	41%	42062	43727	24687	64%
163	Woodbury University (CA)	58%	-14%	34	38%	47748	46648	25898	66%
164	George Fox University (OR)	71%	-13%	101	28%	44267	47984	24071	79%
165	Grand Canyon University (AZ)	32%	-3%	193	47%	49784	43334	19430	34%
166	Adams State University (CO)*	37%	-5%	63	40%	34776	37830	11936	46%
167	University of Alaska–Anchorage (AK)*	33%	-14%	60	39%	44645	45051	11948	63%
168	Biola University (CA)	71%	1%	212	22%	43583	48905	26791	82%
169	Montana State University (MT)*	52%	-11%	309	24%	41917	46664	15869	79%
170	Ashford University (IA)°	27%	1%	307	54%	41247	39611	18642	31%
171	St. John's College (NM)	48%	2%	16	N/A	30939	26919	23696	78%
172	Simpson University (CA)	68%	-15%	38	38%	34343	42613	21684	68%
173	College of Idaho (ID)	62%	-9%	67	29%	39920	45097	19858	79%
174	San Diego Christian College (CA)	47%	-8%	18	39%	35897	39442	28341	67%
175	Regis University (CO)	56%	-5%	94	37%	53952	57056	20706	66%
176	Independence University (UT)	52%	0%	9	56%	28935	32275	27412	26%
177	Colorado Christian University (CO)	44%	-13%	33	44%	38486	43226	21936	66%
178	Vanguard University of So. California (CA)	60%	-9%	102	35%	39563	47217	20101	72%
179	University of the Southwest (NM)	29%	-7%	8	46%	39246	38153	17394	54%
180	Cogswell Polytechnic College (CA)	45%	-16%	6	30%	53504	54340	24832	78%
181	University of Providence (MT)	43%	-7%	28	40%	32500	37461	18777	60%
182	Master's University (CA)	64%	-26%	31	22%	40352	43498	22332	83%
183	Pacific University (OR)	65%	-12%	71	31%	44389	50962	24953	82%
184	Eastern NM University–Main (NM)*	42%	-12%	99	45%	29991	36398	8584	51%
185	Seattle University (WA)	79%	-10%	115	20%	57120	59158	29083	80%
186	Univ. of Phoenix–Southern CA (CA)°	47%	-1%	146	54%	N/A	51894	16318	32%
187	University of Puget Sound (WA)	78%	-7%	85	12%	51416	50788	31222	88%
188	University of Phoenix–Nevada (NV)°	39%	-7%	21	54%	N/A	43506	15987	32%
189	Reed College (OR)	81%	-6%	44	N/A	39204	50494	17197	88%
190	Western Colorado University (CO)*	47%	-5%	57	24%	37801	45423	14665	67%
191	NM State Univ.–Las Cruces (NM)*	51%	-12%	376	44%	34304	41476	7645	52%
192	CO State University–Pueblo (CO)*	38%	-10%	139	41%	37094	44059	12226	55%
193	Metropolitan State Univ. of Denver (CO)*	35%	-9%	163	40%	39818	45342	12674	55%
194	Idaho State University (ID)*	45%	-16%	127	36%	35808	36199	15575	53%
195	Marymount California University (CA)	37%	6%	40	42%	36769	41099	23643	57%
196	Naropa University (CO)	57%	-22%	4	N/A	22386	31420	24691	67%
197	Concordia University–Irvine (CA)	61%	-14%	47	29%	45319	51176	21395	73%
198	Boise State University (ID)*	44%	-15%	287	34%	37029	41742	12710	59%
199	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	37%	-13%	125	40%	36343	42029	16416	57%
200	DeVry University–Westminster (CO)°	27%	1%	4	50%	N/A	47103	29625	42%
201	Walla Walla University (WA)	56%	-18%	48	17%	45952	47838	19264	75%
202	Stevens-Henager College (UT)	30%	-6%	13	56%	28935	29878	25377	26%
203	DeVry University–Phoenix (AZ)°	30%	-10%	12	50%	N/A	48841	28647	42%
204	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	43%	-21%	11	34%	33815	42948	21992	64%
205	Chapman University (CA)	79%	0%	190	17%	53248	57835	33753	70%
206	DeVry University–Ontario (CA)°	28%	-10%	91	50%	N/A	54328	25872	42%
207	Western Governors University (UT)	43%	-25%	5	47%	40695	50145	10201	55%
208	Brookline Coll.–Albuquerque (NM)°	56%	-17%	8	56%	22471	31764	24921	16%
209	Aspen University (CO)°	35%	-33%	0	47%	N/A	43600	14492	N/A
210	Western New Mexico University (NM)*	28%	-8%	30	46%	31595	38970	12036	39%
211	Hawai'i Pacific University (HI)	37%	-13%	63	38%	46656	52278	26539	70%
212	Dominican University of CA (CA)	67%	-6%	62	31%	54170	61637	28752	71%
213	Hope International University (CA)	43%	-26%	10	41%	36491	42597	20479	62%
214	Stevens-Henager College–Murray (UT)	27%	0%	72	56%	28935	38778	27924	26%
215	Academy of Art University (CA)°	28%	-20%	60	39%	38213	41510	31492	40%

Definitions:

Median earnings: median annual earnings 10 years after entering college.

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

First-gen students: percent of students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Predicted median earnings: expected median annual earnings based on student demographic data, adjusted for institutions’ location and academic mission.

Net price: actual cost of attendance for first-time, full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the last three years.

2020 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: West

Definitions:

Median earnings: median annual earnings 10 years after entering college.

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

First-gen students: percent of students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Predicted median earnings: expected median annual earnings based on student demographic data, adjusted for institutions’ location and academic mission.

Net price: actual cost of attendance for first-time, full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the last three years.

Loan repayment rate: percent of students who pay back at least $1 in loan principal within 5 years of leaving college.

* = public
° = for-profit

Definitions:

Median earnings: median annual earnings 10 years after entering college.

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

First-gen students: percent of students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Predicted median earnings: expected median annual earnings based on student demographic data, adjusted for institutions’ location and academic mission.

Net price: actual cost of attendance for first-time, full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the last three years.

Loan repayment rate: percent of students who pay back at least $1 in loan principal within 5 years of leaving college.

* = public ° = for-profit

* = public
° = for-profit