Lens covers 25 large public universities on the West Coast, all public. They range from California State University, San Bernardino (15,023 undergraduates) to California State University, Fullerton (38,546). Acceptance rates run from 9% to 96%, and 15 of the 25 admit at least half of applicants.
Large public universities here have 15,000 or more undergraduates (IPEDS). In Lens, the West Coast means California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
Open these 25 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 25 large public universities on the West Coast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, California | 21,996 | 31% | $13,596 in-state · $34,665 out-of-state |
| California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona, California | 25,042 | 75% | $7,780 in-state · $20,380 out-of-state |
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno, California | 21,605 | 95% | $7,350 in-state · $19,950 out-of-state |
| California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, California | 38,546 | 91% | $7,470 in-state · $20,070 out-of-state |
| California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach, California | 35,924 | 46% | $7,350 in-state · $19,950 out-of-state |
| California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | 19,562 | 91% | $7,160 in-state · $19,760 out-of-state |
| California State University, Northridge | Northridge, California | 32,691 | 93% | $7,458 in-state · $20,058 out-of-state |
| California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento, California | 28,350 | 94% | $8,018 in-state · $20,618 out-of-state |
| California State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino, California | 15,023 | 94% | $8,093 in-state · $20,693 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 Francisco State University | San Francisco, California | 18,639 | 96% | $7,950 in-state · $20,550 out-of-state |
| San Jose State University | San Jose, California | 27,601 | 85% | $8,410 in-state · $21,010 out-of-state |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | 33,068 | 11% | $16,347 in-state · $50,547 out-of-state |
| University of California, Davis | Davis, California | 32,253 | 42% | $16,774 in-state · $50,974 out-of-state |
| University of California, Irvine | Irvine, California | 30,197 | 29% | $15,722 in-state · $49,922 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 California, Riverside | Riverside, California | 22,593 | 76% | $15,606 in-state · $49,806 out-of-state |
| University of California, San Diego | La Jolla, California | 34,948 | 27% | $16,758 in-state · $50,958 out-of-state |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, California | 23,113 | 33% | $16,414 in-state · $50,614 out-of-state |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, California | 17,940 | 66% | $16,005 in-state · $50,205 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 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
- Large Public Universities
- Large Public Universities in the Northeast
- Large Public Universities in the Southeast
- Large Public Universities in the Midwest
- Large Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Large Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Liberal Arts Colleges 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
- 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 large public universities on the West Coast admit at least half of applicants? 15 of the 25: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California State University, Fresno, California State University, Fullerton, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, California State University, Sacramento, California State University, San Bernardino, Oregon State University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, University of California, Riverside, University of California, Santa Cruz and 3 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest large public universities on the West Coast? California State University, Fullerton is the largest, with 38,546 undergraduates, and California State University, San Bernardino is the smallest, with 15,023 (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.