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Below you will find a list of the Top 50 affordable colleges and universities in the Western United States, commonly agreed to comprise Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington. All schools in this region were analyzed and ranked separately according to public and private institutions.

To start, we first compiled a list of all the regionally accredited institutions in the region, and then we zeroed in on schools meeting our definition of affordable. For the purposes of this article, "affordable" refers to having a net price (total cost of attendance minus the average financial aid package) below $22,000 - roughly the typical price tag of a year of college. At this point, we then collected a large amount of data on eight quality indicators: 6-year graduation rate, freshmen retention rate, student-to-faculty ratio, percentage of classes entrusted to graduate assistants, average entrance ACT score, number of campus organizations, number of academic programs, and Forbes ranking. We included the Forbes ranking because, more than other sources that write on education, it assesses schools based on measures of student "output" and satisfaction.

We then assigned points to each school based on their performance in each category; the 25 schools in each division (public and private) with the highest scores made this list. They are listed in descending order according to their net price, but we also included their quality ranking so you can see for yourself just how much value each institution offers.

Public Schools

25. University of California – Berkeley
Berkeley, California



The University of California at Berkeley combines elite academic status with a strong history of community service and activism. Academically, the school has few peers. From engineering, to physical sciences, to anthropology, analysis by the National Research Council found that Berkeley has the greatest number of top ranked graduate programs in the U.S. After your classes with top-notch faculty (no TA classes here) that currently include eight Nobel Laureates, you can dine in the FSM Café to attend an event celebrating Berkeley’s role in the Free Speech Movement of 1964. Looking to compete in (or watch) your favorite sport? Berkeley teams have earned 85 national titles. Considering the Peace Corps? Berkeley is the only university to have more than 3000 alums serve.

Net Price: $16,614
Ranking: 4th

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24. Washington State University



Pullman, Washington

Washington State University is situated at the heart of the Palouse Scenic Byway running along the Idaho border. The Byway is home to natural areas like the 200-foot Palouse Falls, named in 2014 as the official state waterfall. Pullman itself has been named a top college town and one of the safest communities in Washington. Among WSU’s 200 fields of study, the vet school, pharmacy school, and communication school all research at the forefront of their fields, and the nursing school produces more new nurses for Washington State than does any other school. You’ll have excellent writing skills when you graduate; U.S. News and World Report has repeatedly praised WSU for its pan-university writing discipline. There are more than 300 student organizations to suit your interests. In your spare time stop by and visit the grizzlies at the WSU Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center.

Net Price: $16,278
Ranking: 12th

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23. Oregon State University



Corvallis, Oregon

Top students attend Oregon State University for its recognized advancements in conservation biology, nuclear engineering, climate change, public health, marine sciences, and forestry. It is one of the only land, sea, space, and sun grant schools in the nation. Students love living one hour from the Cascades and one hour from the Pacific. Outdoor-bound students might opt to study at the Adventure Leadership Institute to become qualified to lead expeditions and outdoor challenge experiences. With more than 400 student organizations you’re sure to find camaraderie, which helps drive OSU’s freshman retention rate to an impressive 83%. Fourth in the nation in using renewable energy, OSU and the town of Corvallis are well known for environmental responsibility. When you work out, feel free to use one of the 22 exercise machines at Dixon Recreation Center that actually help to power the university’s electrical grid!

Net Price: $16,219
Ranking: 19th

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22. University of California – Davis



Davis, California

UC Davis boasts the largest campus of the UC system. Davis is an exceptional town, with the highest education level in the state. Davis is on many “best towns” lists and is also on many lists as the most bike-friendly city in the country. The university is known for its focus on sustainability, including the West Village area, which contains experimental homes designed for zero net energy living. Founded as an agricultural school in 1908, UC Davis has been ranked no. 1 in the world for agriculture and forestry by QS World University Rankings. The school’s distinguished faculty, one for every 17 students, now span four colleges and six professional schools, with a veterinary teaching hospital that treats 45,000 animals each year. It’s easy to see why Newsweek ranks UC Davis as the 10th Happiest College Campus in the nation.

Net Price: $15,641
Ranking: 6th

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21. University of Oregon



Eugene, Oregon

The University of Oregon enjoys status as a member of the Association of American Universities, an elite group of leading research schools. Thanks in part to its research prowess, UO has many highly ranked programs, including architecture, education, physics, and geological sciences. You’ll enjoy plenty of faculty interaction with a student-faculty ratio of 19:1 and a median class size of 20. Outside the Portland campus, students study marine life on the coast through the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Those wishing to go even farther afield might elect one of 190 study abroad programs. For a more local change of scenery, make your way to the McKenzie River to enjoy the mountain bike trail rated no. 1 by Bike Magazine, and stop for a rest at the breathtaking Tamolitch Blue Pool.

Net Price: $15,362
Ranking: 23rd

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20. Northern Arizona University



Flagstaff, Arizona

Just 90 minutes from the Grand Canyon sits Northern Arizona University. Often ranked as a “best value” university, NAU offers a substantial reduction in out-of-state tuition to residents of 14 western states through the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program. Students enjoy a low student-faculty ratio of 19:1, more than 150 undergraduate majors to consider, and 350 student organizations to join. NAU’s Student Learning Centers foster student success through free tutoring, free Supplemental Instruction sessions for difficult courses, and a Peer Jacks mentoring program for out-of-state students. The Global Learning Initiative ensures that your coursework gives you a global perspective across courses to ready you for the global economy post-graduation. And of interest to those studying beyond our own globe, NAU’s astronomy program entered into a partnership in 2014 giving it significant access to the famed Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered.

Net Price: $14,398
Ranking: 25th

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