Lens covers 9 Catholic colleges on the West Coast, all private. They range from Mount Saint Mary's University (1,719 undergraduates) to Loyola Marymount University (7,094). Acceptance rates run from 45% to 89%, and 7 of the 9 admit at least half of applicants.
Catholic colleges were founded by or are sponsored by the Catholic Church or a Catholic religious order (IPEDS, 2024). How much faith shapes campus life varies, so check each college's own site. In Lens, the West Coast means California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
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The 9 Catholic colleges on the West Coast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga University | Spokane, Washington | 5,198 | 82% | $55,480 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California | 7,094 | 45% | $62,357 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles, California | 1,719 | 73% | $49,564 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga, California | 1,947 | 87% | $57,803 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, California | 6,552 | 48% | $61,293 |
| Seattle University | Seattle, Washington | 4,062 | 77% | $56,721 |
| University of Portland | Portland, Oregon | 2,957 | 89% | $58,100 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, California | 5,671 | 52% | $59,486 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, California | 5,287 | 62% | $60,492 |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Catholic Colleges
- Catholic Colleges in the Northeast
- Catholic Colleges in the Southeast
- Catholic Colleges in the Midwest
- Liberal Arts Colleges on the West Coast
- Large Public Universities on the West Coast
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast
- Smaller Private Universities on the West Coast
- Christian Colleges on the West Coast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports on the West Coast
- Division I Colleges on the West Coast
- Division II Colleges on the West Coast
FAQ
Which Catholic colleges on the West Coast admit at least half of applicants? 7 of the 9: Gonzaga University, Mount Saint Mary's University, Saint Mary's College of California, Seattle University, University of Portland, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest Catholic colleges on the West Coast? Loyola Marymount University is the largest, with 7,094 undergraduates, and Mount Saint Mary's University is the smallest, with 1,719 (fall 2024).
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.