2026 College Rankings

Best Colleges – Best Small Colleges – Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)

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Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)

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Love the idea of a small class size and campus? Then a small college may be right for you! Attending one of these top best small colleges affords its students the opportunity to join a tight-knit community and a unique opportunity for your voice to be heard. For this ranking list, we counted any college with fewer than 3,000 total students enrolled (includes undergraduates and graduate students).

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Rank	Institution	Undergraduates	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	California Institute of Technology	987	2.57	1,540 – 1,590	23397	132140	#1 Best Colleges – Best Small Colleges – Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA Also known as Caltech, the California Institute of Technology is a private, doctoral/research university located on a 124-acre campus in Pasadena. The school's motto is, “the truth shall make you free.” Computer Science, Physics, and General are top majors among students, and there have been over 75 Nobel laureates that have......Read more Undergraduates 987 Acceptance Rate 2.6% SAT Score 1,540 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $23,397 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $132,140
2	Pomona College	1766	7.09	1,490 – 1,560	17423	60850	#2 Best Colleges – Best Small Colleges – Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) Pomona College Claremont, CA Pomona College is a private, liberal arts college offering 39 major programs. Three commonly chosen majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer Science, and Neuroscience. The school was created with a “college of the New England type” in mind. Their mascot is Cecil the Sagehen. Undergraduates 1,766 Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $17,423 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,850
3	Harvey Mudd College	921	12.66	1,500 – 1,580	42720	115107	#3 Best Colleges – Best Small Colleges – Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA Harvey Mudd College only offers programs related to Science and Engineering. Part of the Claremont Colleges, their colors are black and gold. The men’s teams are known as the Stags, and the women are known as the Athenas. It has a 96% first year retention rate and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Undergraduates 921 Acceptance Rate 12.7% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $42,720 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $115,107
4	Soka University of America	476	69.52	1,220 – 1,460	18807	42696	#4 Best Colleges – Best Small Colleges – Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA The Soka University of America, a fairly new school (founded in 2001), focuses on pacifism, human rights, and the creative coexistence of nature and humanity. It was created by the founder of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist movement, Daisaku Ikeda. Students enjoy a cozy 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Undergraduates 476 Acceptance Rate 69.5% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $18,807 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,696
5	Claremont McKenna College	1390	9.59	1,470 – 1,560	29978	87603	#5 Best Colleges – Best Small Colleges – Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA Claremont McKenna College, a private liberal arts school, was founded as a men’s college in 1946. It became co-educational in 1976. The most commonly chosen major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. With an 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 98% of students will stay after their freshman year. Undergraduates 1,390 Acceptance Rate 9.6% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $29,978 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $87,603