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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Far Western Region

19 Colleges in the United States
377 Best Degrees Awarded
$36,428 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools to find the best for best students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best in the Far Western Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in best. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 best students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $41,156. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. See the full best program report for Stanford University

2

University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $31,459. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $15,056 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus

3

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of California Davis, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $32,563 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,155 in student loans. See the full best program report for University Of California Davis

4

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 13 best degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for University Of Southern California

5

Seattle Pacific University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $52,713 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,188 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Seattle Pacific University

6

University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 62 best degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $37,581 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. Get the full best details for University Of California Los Angeles

7

California State University East Bay landed the #7 spot for best this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 best students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $47,511. Typical student debt for the program is $18,638. See the full best program report for California State University East Bay

8

University Of California Irvine placed #8 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 11 best degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $26,712 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,998. Get the full best details for University Of California Irvine

9

University Of California San Diego earned the #9 position for best this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $30,984. Typical student debt for the program is $23,747. Read more about the best program at University Of California San Diego

10

San Francisco State University earned the #10 position for best this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 best students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from San Francisco State University earn around $31,001 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,875 in student loans. Read more about the best program at San Francisco State University

11

California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #11 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 13 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,253 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $13,486 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from California State Polytechnic University Pomona

12

California State University Sacramento ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 27 best degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $30,628 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,120 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for California State University Sacramento

13

California State University Fullerton landed the #13 spot for best this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $25,305. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for California State University Fullerton

14

University Of California Riverside earned the #14 position for best this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. University Of California Riverside awarded about 25 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $31,443 early in their careers. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from University Of California Riverside

15

Western Washington University landed the #15 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Western Washington University awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $41,118. Students borrow a median of $20,361 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Western Washington University

16

University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #16 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Honolulu. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn around $20,109 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,250. Read more about the best program at University Of Hawaii At Manoa

17

California State University Los Angeles landed the #17 spot for best this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 13 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $27,058 in their early career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Get the full best details for California State University Los Angeles

18

Portland State University came in at #18 for best this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 best students who graduated with this degree at Portland State University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $32,441 early in their careers. Portland State University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. See the full best program report for Portland State University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 47 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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