Lens covers 27 suburban colleges on the West Coast, 12 public and 15 private. They range from Menlo College (752 undergraduates) to California State University, Fullerton (38,546). Acceptance rates run from 4% to 98%, and 18 of the 27 admit at least half of applicants.
Suburban colleges are in the suburbs of a city (NCES locale). In Lens, the West Coast means California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
Open these 27 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 27 suburban colleges 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 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, East Bay | Hayward, California | 9,809 | 97% | $7,583 in-state · $20,183 out-of-state |
| California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, California | 38,546 | 91% | $7,470 in-state · $20,070 out-of-state |
| California State University, Monterey Bay | Seaside, California | 6,819 | 97% | $7,779 in-state · $20,379 out-of-state |
| California State University, San Marcos | San Marcos, California | 14,877 | 95% | $8,082 in-state · $20,682 out-of-state |
| California State University, Stanislaus | Turlock, California | 8,385 | 98% | $8,246 in-state · $20,846 out-of-state |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, California | 1,388 | 10% | $67,980 |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, California | 921 | 13% | $68,613 |
| Menlo College | Atherton, California | 752 | 68% | $53,630 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, Washington | 2,401 | 78% | $52,254 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, California | 3,553 | 63% | $69,918 |
| Pitzer College | Claremont, California | 1,227 | 25% | $65,192 |
| Pomona College | Claremont, California | 1,666 | 7% | $65,420 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga, California | 1,947 | 87% | $57,803 |
| Scripps College | Claremont, California | 1,113 | 38% | $65,950 |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, California | 5,166 | 93% | $8,624 in-state · $21,224 out-of-state |
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | 7,554 | 4% | $65,910 |
| University of California, Davis | Davis, California | 32,253 | 42% | $16,774 in-state · $50,974 out-of-state |
| University of California, Merced | Merced, California | 8,372 | 91% | $15,623 in-state · $49,823 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 La Verne | La Verne, California | 3,050 | 71% | $49,470 |
| University of Washington–Bothell | Bothell, Washington | 5,457 | 91% | $12,919 in-state · $43,155 out-of-state |
| 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
- Suburban Colleges
- Suburban Colleges in the Northeast
- Suburban Colleges in the Southeast
- Suburban 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
- 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
FAQ
Which suburban colleges on the West Coast admit at least half of applicants? 18 of the 27: Azusa Pacific University, Biola University, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California State University, East Bay, California State University, Fullerton, California State University, Monterey Bay, California State University, San Marcos, California State University, Stanislaus, Menlo College, Pacific Lutheran University, Pepperdine University, Saint Mary's College of California and 6 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest suburban colleges on the West Coast? California State University, Fullerton is the largest, with 38,546 undergraduates, and Menlo College is the smallest, with 752 (fall 2024).
How many suburban colleges on the West Coast are public? 12 of the 27 are public and 15 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.