Top 10 Most Underrated West Coast Colleges
What’s Covered:
When many people think of West Coast higher education, they think about the renowned University of California system. They might also immediately envision the range of globally recognized private universities, such as Stanford and USC. The average student may not know, however, that the West Coast also has some hidden gems.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 schools on and near the West Coast that often get overlooked in college ranking lists, despite having attractive career prospects and desirable locations. For those of you looking for a few more schools to consider, we think these 10 should make the cut.
How We Put This List Together
While commonly circulated lists are well suited for exploring top-ranking universities, they’re prone to leaving out some worthy lesser-knowns. Here at CollegeVine, we’ve selected factors that focus more on the outcomes of higher education, such as return on investment (ROI) and job placements.
In determining our list of the 10 most underrated West Coast schools, we took into consideration the following criteria:
- One- and five-year ROI after graduation
- Financial performance of specific majors
- Qualitative data on career outcomes like job placement and grad school progression
- Access to attractive job markets
The 10 Most Underrated West Coast Colleges
1. San José State University | SJSU
Location: San Jose, CA
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Undergrad Enrollment: 28,000
If you’re interested in pursuing a major in engineering or computer science, San José State just might be the place for you. In fact, based on CollegeVine’s analysis, San José State graduates with these degrees enjoy an ROI that ranks in the top 40.
Generally speaking, SJSU graduates merely need to step off campus to find themselves in the heart of the booming tech capital that is Silicon Valley.
Learn more about San José State University and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Brigham Young University | BYU
Location: Provo, UT
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Undergrad Enrollment: 34,200
Brigham Young University is a private research university with a Mormon affiliation and a dedication to upholding a religious lifestyle. Its non-profit status allows it to remain affordable to even out-of-state students, with a total cost of attendance (COA) of just $29,488 (for non-Latter-day Saints).
For those graduating with degrees in business, STEM or computer science, the COA is essentially backing for a return on investment higher than any other school on our list—BYU ranks within the top 30 for this metric.
Graduates tend to concentrate in Salt Lake City’s Silicon Slopes, an up-and-coming tech community with job openings abounding; it’s no wonder they find career outcomes vastly positive.
Learn more about Brigham Young University and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Santa Clara University
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Acceptance Rate: 47%
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,100
Santa Clara University ranks within the top 100 national universities this year. SCU also typically ranks within the top 15 schools in the U.S. for salary potential. This is consistent with CollegeVine’s analysis of the school’s ROI, which is within the top 100 for all majors offered.
The oldest operating institution of higher learning in California, SCU has had some time to build a name for itself. As such, it has built up a strong relationship with the surrounding Bay Area, giving its students access to opportunities in San Francisco, the Bay Area, Berkeley, Silicon Valley, and other nearby career hubs.
Learn more about Santa Clara University and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Washington State University | WSU
Location: Pullman, WA
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Undergrad Enrollment: 22,600
Interested in engineering or business? Though WSU is not located in direct proximity to any major metropolitan areas—which often causes it to get overlooked in college rankings—graduates in the fields of engineering and business enjoy an ROI in the top 80.
As the second largest university in Washington, WSU has abundant resources to offer its students. And with Seattle and Portland not far away, students tend not to mind the lack of an immediate urban environment—nor do their careers suffer for it.
Learn more about Washington State University and what it takes to get accepted.
5. University of Wyoming
Location: Laramie, WY
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Undergrad Enrollment: 8,500
Similarly to WSU, the University of Wyoming lacks direct access to any major metropolitan job hubs. However, with Denver just a couple of hours away, students not only manage to join, but also actually excel, in the workforce. In particular, those in engineering have career outcomes comfortably in the top 100, according to CollegeVine’s data.
Learn more about the University of Wyoming and what it takes to get accepted.
6. University of Utah
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Undergrad Enrollment: 26,300
The University of Utah is the state’s oldest institution of higher learning—and, just as with BYU—it benefits from its close proximity to Utah’s Silicon Slopes and Salt Lake City at large. The U of U, as students fondly refer to it, is strong in the fields of computer science, business, and STEM. For students in these fields, projected ROI places the school in the top 65.
Learn more about the University of Utah and what it takes to get accepted.
7. University of Idaho
Location: Moscow, ID
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Undergrad Enrollment: 9,600
Located just a few hours from Boise, Idaho, the University of Idaho boasts access to one of the financial capitals of the country. Major companies like Micron Technology have offices and headquarters there, making the city great for a college graduate.
In fact, the University of Idaho is known as the premier research university of Idaho, and is practically a feeder school for the fast-paced business industry that Boise is home to. For this reason, the university is ranked in the top 100 in the metric of ROI for its business program.
Learn more about the University of Idaho and what it takes to get accepted.
8. University of Arizona
Location: Tucson, AZ
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Undergrad Enrollment: 45,000
The University of Arizona is a public university that is generally ranked within the top 150 in the country. Just a couple of hours away is Phoenix, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country and home to ample job opportunities.
Job prospects for any UA graduate are promising. In particular, those with a computer science degree find themselves shining in the workforce—so much so, in fact, that the ROI ranking is a comfortable top 60 for computer science students.
Learn more about the University of Arizona and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Oregon State University | OSU
Location: Corvallis, OR
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Undergrad Enrollment: 32,000
Known for its well-regarded business, STEM, and engineering majors, OSU attracts students from all over America, as well as over 100 other countries. Graduates certainly reap the benefits of an OSU degree, enjoying a ROI in the top 100.
Nearby, you can find Portland—a city that consistently appears on lists of most graduate-friendly places—so career outlook is reliably sunny.
Learn more about Oregon State University and what it takes to get accepted.
10. San Diego State University | SDSU
Location: San Diego, CA
Acceptance Rate: 36%
Undergrad Enrollment: 33,900
SDSU is typically ranked within the top 150 national universities. If you’re pursuing the pre-med track, however, San Diego State could be a strong contender, enjoying a pre-med ROI ranked within the top 80.
In addition, San Diego has recently been a highly ranked U.S. city for tech hiring prospects, which is likely to spur all-around market growth. This means SDSU graduates in all fields should find job placement easier upon graduating.
Learn more about San Diego State University and what it takes to get accepted.
For More Information
With these schools in mind, you may have found a college that aligns with your future med school goals. At CollegeVine, we’re committed to making college guidance accessible to all who want it. That’s why, on our college applications guidance platform, you can use our free chancing engine, build a best-fit school list, and learn how to improve your profile—all for free.
Sign up for a CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your journey to a college as a pre-med. Also check out Sage, our AI tutor and advisor, who can improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school by helping you show what you have to offer beyond the numbers!
