Lens covers 16 liberal arts colleges on the West Coast, 3 public and 13 private. They range from Minerva University (637 undergraduates) to University of California, Merced (8,372). Acceptance rates run from 3% to 98%, and 8 of the 16 admit at least half of applicants.
Liberal arts colleges are small colleges focused on undergraduate teaching across the arts and sciences, as classified by Carnegie. In Lens, the West Coast means California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
Open these 16 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 16 liberal arts colleges on the West Coast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt | Arcata, California | 5,612 | 98% | $8,250 in-state · $20,850 out-of-state |
| California State University, Channel Islands | Camarillo, California | 5,013 | 95% | $7,159 in-state · $19,759 out-of-state |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, California | 1,388 | 10% | $67,980 |
| Minerva University | San Francisco, California | 637 | 3% | $23,630 |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, California | 1,877 | 44% | $66,274 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, Washington | 2,401 | 78% | $52,254 |
| Pitzer College | Claremont, California | 1,227 | 25% | $65,192 |
| Pomona College | Claremont, California | 1,666 | 7% | $65,420 |
| Reed College | Portland, Oregon | 1,320 | 25% | $69,350 |
| Scripps College | Claremont, California | 1,113 | 38% | $65,950 |
| University of California, Merced | Merced, California | 8,372 | 91% | $15,623 in-state · $49,823 out-of-state |
| University of Portland | Portland, Oregon | 2,957 | 89% | $58,100 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, Washington | 1,594 | 72% | $62,898 |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla, Washington | 1,531 | 38% | $64,050 |
| Whittier College | Whittier, California | 764 | 81% | $51,350 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane, Washington | 1,858 | 90% | $52,880 |
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
- Liberal Arts Colleges
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Northeast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Southeast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the South and Southwest
- 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
- 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 liberal arts colleges on the West Coast admit at least half of applicants? 8 of the 16: California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, California State University, Channel Islands, Pacific Lutheran University, University of California, Merced, University of Portland, University of Puget Sound, Whittier College, Whitworth University (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast? University of California, Merced is the largest, with 8,372 undergraduates, and Minerva University is the smallest, with 637 (fall 2024).
How many liberal arts colleges on the West Coast are public? 3 of the 16 are public and 13 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.