Lens covers 25 smaller private universities on the West Coast, all private. They range from Concordia University–Irvine (1,536 undergraduates) to California Baptist University (8,179). Acceptance rates run from 4% to 94%, and 22 of the 25 admit at least half of applicants.
Smaller private universities here have fewer than 10,000 undergraduates and are not liberal arts colleges or specialized schools (IPEDS, Carnegie). 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 smaller private universities on the West Coast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, California | 2,759 | 88% | $44,458 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, California | 3,474 | 74% | $48,984 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside, California | 8,179 | 85% | $41,228 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, California | 2,296 | 76% | $52,560 |
| Chapman University | Orange, California | 7,478 | 65% | $64,984 |
| Concordia University–Irvine | Irvine, California | 1,536 | 66% | $43,480 |
| George Fox University | Newberg, Oregon | 2,699 | 94% | $42,750 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane, Washington | 5,198 | 82% | $55,480 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, Hawaii | 2,392 | 86% | $34,392 |
| Lewis & Clark College | Portland, Oregon | 2,120 | 78% | $64,828 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California | 7,094 | 45% | $62,357 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles, California | 1,719 | 73% | $49,564 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, California | 3,553 | 63% | $69,918 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, California | 3,188 | 84% | $46,250 |
| 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 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | 7,554 | 4% | $65,910 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, California | 3,050 | 71% | $49,470 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, California | 2,049 | 83% | $60,878 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, California | 5,671 | 52% | $59,486 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, California | 5,287 | 62% | $60,492 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, California | 3,204 | 71% | $57,080 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa, California | 1,933 | 62% | $41,700 |
| Willamette University | Salem, Oregon | 1,592 | 77% | $51,156 |
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
- Smaller Private Universities
- Smaller Private Universities in the Northeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the Southeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the South and Southwest
- Liberal Arts Colleges on the West Coast
- Large Public Universities on the West Coast
- Smaller Public 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 smaller private universities on the West Coast admit at least half of applicants? 22 of the 25: Azusa Pacific University, Biola University, California Baptist University, California Lutheran University, Chapman University, Concordia University–Irvine, George Fox University, Gonzaga University, Hawaii Pacific University, Lewis & Clark College, Mount Saint Mary's University, Pepperdine University and 10 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest smaller private universities on the West Coast? California Baptist University is the largest, with 8,179 undergraduates, and Concordia University–Irvine is the smallest, with 1,536 (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.