2023 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 graduation rate gap	Number of Pell graduates	Actual vs. predicted Pell enrollment	Median earnings 10 years after entering college	Earnings performance rank	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	Net price rank
1	CA State University–Los Angeles (CA)*	68%	-2%	2629	17%	53108	54	2093	2
2	CA State University–Stanislaus (CA)*	69%	-3%	1005	16%	56042	17	4997	6
3	Brigham Young University (UT)	85%	-10%	1159	21%	72708	4	10651	57
4	CA State University–Northridge (CA)*	69%	-8%	3779	10%	54868	47	7052	12
5	CA State Univ.–Dominguez Hills (CA)*	65%	-4%	1577	18%	48637	86	3296	4
6	CA State U.–Maritime Academy (CA)*	70%	-6%	64	0%	91637	1	15016	105
7	Brigham Young University–ID (ID)	66%	-8%	1206	7%	50916	116	3940	3
8	CA State University–Sacramento (CA)*	69%	-7%	2894	10%	59041	63	7627	17
9	University of WA–Tacoma (WA)*	75%	-5%	540	8%	71494	10	6535	11
10	CA State University–Bakersfield (CA)*	57%	-4%	908	16%	54068	12	5400	7
11	Stanford University (CA)	96%	-3%	257	4%	102393	8	355	1
12	CA State Univ.–San Bernardino (CA)*	70%	-5%	1989	14%	53109	31	4841	10
13	CA State University–Fresno (CA)*	69%	-10%	2185	13%	53868	28	4631	8
14	CA State Poly. Univ.–Pomona (CA)*	77%	-5%	2089	15%	65569	157	10775	46
15	CA State University–Long Beach (CA)*	80%	-2%	3279	10%	59048	124	7429	25
16	Harvey Mudd College (CA)	94%	-1%	27	7%	118602	2	17716	131
17	CA State University–Chico (CA)*	74%	-12%	1437	6%	58640	34	12091	63
18	Fresno Pacific University (CA)	66%	-2%	376	21%	52058	25	14531	104
19	California State Univ.–Fullerton (CA)*	78%	-4%	3227	5%	56586	123	4809	9
20	Evergreen State College (WA)*	66%	-5%	533	14%	41762	24	14361	103
21	CA Poly. St. U.–San Luis Obispo (CA)*	84%	-6%	899	0%	83222	22	14611	106
22	University of California–Davis (CA)*	89%	-5%	2877	7%	72036	98	11273	70
23	Claremont McKenna College (CA)	92%	-5%	38	1%	91873	6	9686	22
24	CA State Univ.–Monterey Bay (CA)*	70%	-2%	617	9%	53830	107	7959	18
25	Univ. of California–Merced (CA)*	70%	-5%	714	22%	62257	43	10971	62
26	CA State Univ.–Channel Islands (CA)*	70%	-5%	567	10%	53910	70	12267	69
27	University of CA–San Diego (CA)*	89%	-4%	2296	14%	78513	122	10698	58
28	Pacific Rim Christian Univ. (HI)	74%	48%	12	-8%	N/A	101	17298	120
29	San Francisco State University (CA)*	68%	-2%	2498	0%	62462	48	12018	86
30	CA State University–San Marcos (CA)*	65%	-3%	929	4%	57153	80	11186	50
31	Sonoma State University (CA)*	70%	-5%	608	-5%	60757	36	10681	45
32	Faith International Univ. (MA)	62%	15%	32	-3%	44878	74	19154	140
33	University of California–Irvine (CA)*	87%	-3%	2854	12%	74277	170	8894	35
34	Arizona State. Univ.–Digital (AZ)*	50%	-4%	791	1%	57358	7	12659	92
35	University of California–LA (CA)*	93%	-5%	2864	8%	76785	153	9286	42
36	Mount St. Mary's Univ.–LA (CA)	68%	10%	296	14%	70652	9	30185	195
37	Utah State University (UT)*	54%	-5%	961	11%	51598	19	11219	66
38	San Jose State University (CA)*	73%	-5%	2300	4%	70000	186	12775	79
39	University of CA–Berkeley (CA)*	93%	-5%	2358	8%	84205	134	10260	52
40	University of CA–Riverside (CA)*	79%	-2%	2403	19%	61263	192	9335	43
41	CA State University–East Bay (CA)*	67%	-9%	1407	6%	62554	39	10380	53
42	Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)*	63%	-7%	813	16%	44496	120	12139	64
43	University of WA–Seattle (WA)*	84%	-6%	1839	1%	71494	121	6802	19
44	Washington State University (WA)*	65%	-13%	1747	-5%	63206	11	8977	37
45	Western Washington Univ. (WA)*	73%	-11%	845	1%	57059	103	10166	38
46	Arizona State University (AZ)*	65%	-11%	3543	9%	57358	104	10184	51
47	California Institute of Tech. (CA)	93%	1%	24	2%	108188	105	6101	15
48	University of Southern CA (CA)	93%	-2%	1183	3%	86655	59	16527	122
49	Soka University of America (CA)	92%	-8%	30	0%	50737	56	10241	28
50	University of WA–Bothell (WA)*	78%	-10%	416	3%	71494	127	7137	14
51	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	50%	-14%	230	-5%	68774	16	13229	73
52	Heritage University (WA)	51%	-18%	118	19%	46021	26	7449	16
53	Portland State University (OR)*	52%	-4%	1743	7%	53235	62	11877	82
54	Central Washington University (WA)*	63%	-10%	865	-4%	57484	50	12782	80
55	University of CA–Santa Barbara (CA)*	85%	-4%	1948	9%	68409	156	11912	84
56	Pomona College (CA)	94%	0%	68	12%	71727	185	6727	5
57	Warner Pacific University (OR)	50%	-2%	65	11%	52197	13	18225	130
58	University of Redlands (CA)	75%	-3%	267	3%	67139	51	19555	144
59	Utah Valley University (UT)*	39%	-10%	828	-1%	53489	32	8514	21
60	Humphreys–Stockton/Modesto (CA)	43%	7%	60	13%	37157	154	9711	32
61	San Diego State University (CA)*	79%	-4%	2421	-6%	60275	178	7772	26
62	Prescott College (AZ)	55%	7%	58	21%	36351	172	14979	108
63	University of Utah (UT)*	70%	-15%	1384	4%	62523	38	11882	83
64	Santa Clara University (CA)	91%	-1%	184	-5%	96152	15	24964	180
65	Saint Martin's University (WA)	67%	-7%	122	2%	57737	53	18575	134
66	University of Arizona (AZ)*	64%	-12%	2042	7%	57505	82	11925	85
67	University of Hawaii–Hilo (HI)*	43%	-1%	299	-1%	44671	60	12109	88
68	Whitworth University (WA)	76%	-15%	131	7%	56230	42	18665	135
69	Eastern Oregon University (OR)*	39%	-11%	288	2%	47115	21	12725	77
70	Eastern Washington University (WA)*	58%	-12%	865	-10%	53928	93	9641	31
71	Colorado School of Mines (CO)*	79%	-7%	147	-1%	92974	23	18401	138
72	University of the Pacific (CA)	75%	-3%	341	10%	77590	44	19950	149
73	Life Pacific University (CA)	50%	10%	43	10%	41669	64	19693	147
74	Alaska Pacific University (AK)	41%	4%	13	7%	47186	18	19131	141
75	Embry-Riddle Aero.–Prescott (AZ)	67%	-4%	90	5%	79890	5	33146	206
76	University of Oregon (OR)*	73%	-11%	1135	0%	55315	76	14233	109
77	Montana State Univ.–Northern (MT)*	42%	-5%	75	-7%	43573	72	11355	44
78	Brigham Young Univ.–Hawaii (HI)	66%	-6%	120	-3%	49924	109	11665	47
79	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	81%	0%	31	7%	47912	94	19358	150
80	New Mexico Highlands Univ. (NM)*	41%	-4%	240	-1%	38784	89	10022	36
81	California Lutheran University (CA)	72%	-2%	201	3%	62543	112	19074	139
82	Southern Utah University (UT)*	52%	-10%	301	4%	48254	81	11504	55
83	Occidental College (CA)	86%	3%	103	4%	67872	151	15393	112
84	Whittier College (CA)	69%	4%	149	12%	57443	152	18960	148
85	Pacific Lutheran University (WA)	70%	-11%	205	19%	58991	110	17319	123
86	Linfield College (OR)	73%	-7%	104	-4%	68219	14	23201	179
87	Northern Arizona University (AZ)*	60%	-13%	1810	-1%	48534	90	11467	71
88	Colorado State University (CO)*	71%	-12%	1243	-4%	56686	99	13131	97
89	Western Oregon University (OR)*	50%	-3%	405	3%	48498	85	15475	111
90	Idaho State University (ID)*	52%	-9%	2335	-5%	43582	100	16053	117
91	Pacific Union College (CA)	58%	-9%	100	-5%	63907	37	18515	132
92	Carroll College (MT)	67%	-11%	57	-2%	57583	40	18914	137
93	Western Governors University (UT)	54%	-25%	4077	18%	50561	195	9912	34
94	Westminster College (UT)	64%	-10%	128	10%	58611	52	19523	143
95	University of Idaho (ID)*	59%	-9%	626	-5%	49799	75	11203	65
96	Touro College Los Angeles (CA)	49%	-11%	11	10%	N/A	61	17899	126
97	University of Colorado–Denver (CO)*	51%	2%	602	-10%	59032	78	11832	81
98	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	48%	-11%	36	8%	94563	3	33233	207
99	University of NV–Las Vegas (NV)*	53%	-7%	1285	3%	52914	115	10732	59
100	Grand Canyon University (AZ)	40%	-11%	3686	6%	39084	132	19046	145
101	Weber State University (UT)*	42%	-11%	462	-8%	53415	68	10210	39
102	Gonzaga University (WA)	85%	-4%	224	-9%	72897	69	23379	170
103	Saint Mary’s College of CA (CA)	76%	-5%	186	-5%	69733	87	23335	169
104	Pitzer College (CA)	85%	3.24E-02	37	-4%	63232	191	10169	27
105	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	47%	-8%	216	-2%	39753	173	13299	74
106	University of CA–Santa Cruz (CA)*	80%	-3%	1749	8%	61139	208	13152	98
107	Pepperdine University (CA)	84%	3.01E-02	218	-5%	75130	57	30393	198
108	Azusa Pacific University (CA)	69%	-2%	494	-3%	59749	84	23909	171
109	Univ. of Advancing Technology (AZ)	32%	5%	54	7%	48494	118	15975	113
110	National University (CA)	35%	-14%	1079	-24%	64942	20	12231	68
111	University of San Francisco (CA)	77%	1%	396	3%	80913	41	31614	199
112	University of La Verne (CA)	64%	-4%	581	2%	59646	83	24732	176
113	University of Wyoming (WY)*	60%	-15%	421	0%	51994	96	7394	23
114	CO Technical Univ. (CO)°	22%	-10%	1256	19%	36334	71	16900	124
115	St. John's College (NM)	58%	0%	26	22%	42305	35	24017	184
116	William Jessup University (CA)	68%	-8%	117	-1%	52292	108	22201	161
117	Woodbury University (CA)	62%	-8%	134	8%	57984	66	24766	174
118	Chaminade Univ. of Honolulu (HI)	46%	-5%	129	4%	44578	58	26376	186
119	Montana Technological Univ. (MT)*	55%	-7%	72	3%	50471	158	12990	87
120	California Baptist University (CA)	61%	-11%	564	4%	54597	125	20962	153
121	Oregon State University (OR)*	65%	-14%	1336	0%	58540	126	16192	118
122	University of Alaska–Fairbanks (AK)*	34%	-13%	100	-12%	44939	45	8260	30
123	Amer. InterCont. Univ.–Online (IL)°	21%	-7%	866	17%	36565	174	13134	89
124	Northwest Nazarene University (ID)	62%	-10%	87	-1%	47375	117	19656	146
125	Utah Tech University (UT)*	40%	-8%	211	-4%	42013	165	12698	61
126	Northwest University (WA)	59%	-8%	114	2%	50204	114	17697	125
127	University of San Diego (CA)	81%	-3%	223	-9%	76525	97	21938	163
128	NM Inst. of Mining and Tech (NM)*	55%	-18%	76	12%	63314	102	11141	49
129	Colorado College (CO)	87%	3%	48	-3%	59302	202	12090	56
130	Corban University (OR)	57%	-3%	61	-6%	48520	95	20586	152
131	University of Phoenix–Phoenix (AZ)°	27%	1%	8159	-5%	38576	184	12859	94
132	Art Center College of Design (CA)	73%	2%	134	14%	68569	30	41711	209
133	Southern Oregon University (OR)*	47%	-12%	353	-8%	45552	145	8607	24
134	University of Portland (OR)	82%	-5%	205	-3%	74280	79	30218	196
135	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	42%	-28%	199	-9%	43042	133	10297	29
136	Vanguard Univ. of So. California (CA)	65%	-6%	182	3%	51088	187	16589	116
137	Northwest Christian University (OR)	57%	-15%	61	-5%	47034	67	18019	128
138	Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)	75%	-6%	158	4%	61988	139	27284	188
139	Whitman College (WA)	89%	-3%	37	1%	61891	141	21432	168
140	Univ. of Montana–Western (MT)*	47%	-17%	78	-12%	40843	119	11261	41
141	University of Puget Sound (WA)	77%	-9%	93	5%	63206	73	22769	173
142	Naropa University (CO)	55%	7%	43	19%	25172	205	22902	166
143	Seattle University (WA)	78%	-3%	250	-3%	71394	106	27768	191
144	Scripps College (CA)	88%	-4%	24	-1%	67688	147	17754	133
145	Nevada State College (NV)*	29%	-14%	153	-16%	53187	46	12607	60
146	University of Northern CO (CO)*	54%	-13%	609	-8%	48027	49	13197	99
147	Willamette University (OR)	73%	-3%	95	5%	58329	88	26384	194
148	Metropolitan State U. Denver (CO)*	36%	-5%	1015	-10%	48686	169	12765	78
149	University of Colorado–Boulder (CO)*	69%	-9%	882	-5%	63007	148	15411	114
150	Regis University (CO)	58%	-4%	315	-10%	65395	55	21242	155
151	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	37%	-10%	322	-2%	42453	171	13770	90
152	University of Nevada–Reno (NV)*	59%	-12%	816	-2%	57264	140	12907	95
153	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	49%	-5%	186	-10%	50400	204	11166	40
154	Seattle Pacific University (WA)	68%	-13%	224	2%	59052	92	21323	157
155	La Sierra University (CA)	48%	-3%	455	1%	57931	113	21345	154
156	University of Antelope Valley (CA)°	66%	28%	30	-12%	26484	209	26780	189
157	University of Alaska Southeast (AK)*	36%	-8%	34	-20%	41114	155	8432	20
158	Bethesda University (CA)	22%	6%	13	-16%	N/A	135	14790	102
159	College of Idaho (ID)	68%	-15%	83	0%	46722	188	20298	151
160	University of NM–Main (NM)*	52%	-13%	682	3%	42300	176	14423	110
161	University of Denver (CO)	75%	-4%	223	-2%	67384	159	22506	165
162	University of Hawaii–Manoa (HI)*	63%	-5%	877	-4%	54459	201	11751	76
163	Montana State Univ.–Billings (MT)*	35%	-9%	154	-13%	40975	111	12701	75
164	John Paul the Great Catholic U. (CA)	56%	-11%	9	4%	N/A	65	26310	187
165	George Fox University (OR)	74%	-8%	209	-3%	51876	166	24302	172
166	Warner Pacific Univ. Adult Prog. (OR)	61%	-80%	92	0%	52197	27	14477	96
167	CO State University–Pueblo (CO)*	40%	-9%	296	-2%	46562	177	12224	67
168	Walla Walla University (WA)	64%	-16%	93	-2%	54947	143	18822	136
169	Univ. of CO–Colorado Springs (CO)*	49%	-9%	529	-2%	49576	163	12711	93
170	Eastern NM University–Main (NM)*	45%	-9%	260	-18%	34875	190	7056	13
171	Adams State University (CO)*	37%	-4%	153	1%	38060	197	11487	54
172	Hope International University (CA)	44%	-4%	46	3%	42431	194	16462	115
173	Rocky Mountain College (MT)	51%	-14%	57	-2%	48259	130	16927	119
174	Westmont College (CA)	77%	-3%	65	-4%	61662	128	25361	190
175	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	77%	-7%	104	6%	52084	182	23173	178
176	Ashford University (IA)°	20%	1%	4558	-8%	37156	146	21558	158
177	Los Angeles Pacific University (CA)	30%	2%	49	-5%	N/A	164	19262	142
178	University of Montana (MT)*	45%	-17%	404	5%	42581	142	13377	101
179	Reed College (OR)	81%	-1%	58	4%	51510	207	16693	121
180	Western New Mexico Univ. (NM)*	34%	-7%	107	-10%	35168	175	13392	91
181	Loyola Marymount University (CA)	82%	-2%	299	-8%	70236	150	31741	200
182	University of Alaska–Anchorage (AK)*	33%	-16%	184	-12%	48869	136	10917	48
183	Rocky Mt. Coll. of Art & Design (CO)	31%	-6%	73	7%	39603	162	21389	156
184	Hawaii Pacific University (HI)	36%	-5%	166	-10%	55916	77	26370	185
185	Pacific University (OR)	69%	-13%	126	0%	55401	167	24535	175
186	NM State Univ.–Main (NM)*	53%	-12%	639	-2%	37431	200	8680	33
187	University of Providence (MT)	52%	-8%	73	-14%	41299	161	22108	159
188	Montana State University (MT)*	55%	-10%	629	-6%	50299	168	17384	129
189	Boise State University (ID)*	52%	-14%	888	-10%	44985	181	14084	107
190	DeVry University–Phoenix (AZ)°	25%	7%	78	-5%	44851	137	30519	202
191	Sierra Nevada College (NV)	56%	-4%	49	-8%	46029	144	30230	197
192	Western Colorado University (CO)*	51%	-11%	101	-13%	46355	198	14205	100
193	Providence Christian College (CA)	49%	-24%	6	1%	53391	33	20800	162
194	Cogswell Polytechnic College (CA)	42%	-14%	35	3%	58349	138	25396	183
195	San Diego Christian College (CA)	39%	7%	90	-3%	48237	149	31893	201
196	Colorado Christian University (CO)	33%	-14%	233	-2%	47309	131	22925	167
197	Univ. of Phoenix–Southern CA (CA)°	51%	4%	1707	-27%	38576	210	12488	72
198	Simpson University (CA)	66%	-43%	143	-1%	45532	91	20694	160
199	Concordia University–Irvine (CA)	65%	-12%	131	-9%	56488	180	22061	164
200	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	47%	-15%	31	-10%	40772	183	25314	182
201	Newschool of Arch. & Design (CA)^^	62%	-24%	31	-5%	58174	29	39535	208
202	Biola University (CA)	71%	-10%	269	-4%	50426	203	25441	181
203	Chapman University (CA)	80%	-7%	302	-6%	62840	196	32989	204
204	University of the Southwest (NM)	31%	-14%	35	-6%	43985	160	17974	127
205	Dominican University of CA (CA)	70%	-8%	110	0%	68853	189	33455	205
206	Multnomah University (OR)	53%	-19%	44	2%	43919	193	28484	193
207	DeVry University–Ontario (CA)°	26%	-3%	490	-6%	44851	206	28207	192
208	Master's University (CA)	53%	-30%	68	-5%	51319	129	24913	177
209	California Institute of the Arts (CA)	67%	-5%	64	4%	39427	199	44160	210
210	Academy of Art University (CA)°	28%	-22%	221	-3%	39962	179	32392	203

Definitions:

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.

Definitions:

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.

* = public ° = for-profit

* = public
° = for-profit