Lens covers 12 colleges with big-time sports on the West Coast, 10 public and 2 private. They range from Stanford University (7,554 undergraduates) to San Diego State University (35,377). Acceptance rates run from 4% to 95%, and 6 of the 12 admit at least half of applicants.
Colleges with big-time sports play NCAA Division I football in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), where game days are big campus events (Equity in Athletics, 2024–25). In Lens, the West Coast means California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
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The 12 colleges with big-time sports on the West Coast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno, California | 21,605 | 95% | $7,350 in-state · $19,950 out-of-state |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, Oregon | 30,743 | 77% | $14,400 in-state · $38,190 out-of-state |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California | 35,377 | 36% | $8,728 in-state · $21,328 out-of-state |
| San Jose State University | San Jose, California | 27,601 | 85% | $8,410 in-state · $21,010 out-of-state |
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | 7,554 | 4% | $65,910 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | 33,068 | 11% | $16,347 in-state · $50,547 out-of-state |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | 33,475 | 9% | $15,203 in-state · $49,403 out-of-state |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, Hawaii | 15,029 | 87% | $12,186 in-state · $34,218 out-of-state |
| University of Oregon | Eugene, Oregon | 20,497 | 88% | $16,137 in-state · $44,598 out-of-state |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California | 20,443 | 10% | $72,097 |
| University of Washington–Seattle | Seattle, Washington | 31,942 | 39% | $12,973 in-state · $43,209 out-of-state |
| Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | 21,099 | 87% | $13,391 in-state · $29,950 out-of-state |
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
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Northeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Southeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Midwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the South and Southwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Mountain West
- 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
- Catholic Colleges on the West Coast
- Christian Colleges on the West Coast
- Division I Colleges on the West Coast
- Division II Colleges on the West Coast
FAQ
Which colleges with big-time sports on the West Coast admit at least half of applicants? 6 of the 12: California State University, Fresno, Oregon State University, San Jose State University, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Oregon, Washington State University (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest colleges with big-time sports on the West Coast? San Diego State University is the largest, with 35,377 undergraduates, and Stanford University is the smallest, with 7,554 (fall 2024).
How many colleges with big-time sports on the West Coast are public? 10 of the 12 are public and 2 are private.
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.