Stanford University once again claimed a top spot on Business Insider's annual ranking of the best colleges in America, coming it at No. 4 for 2016. Referred to as the Ivy of the West, Stanford earned a top spot for a number of reasons: it provides a quality education and graduates students on time, it sets graduates up to earn well-paying jobs early in their career, and it creates a memorable and enjoyable campus experience. (You can read about the methodology in detail here.)
Stanford is the best college in the American West, but it isn't the only school in the region to make the list. In fact, when we expanded our ranking to the top 100 schools in the country, 14 of the best colleges in the US are located in the West. What's more, California is home to 13 of those schools (the other is in Washington state), including several private universities and four University of California (UC) schools.
Read on for the full list of the best colleges in the West.
SEE ALSO: The 14 best colleges in the Midwest
DON'T MISS: The 23 best colleges in the Northeast
14. University of San Diego
Location: San Diego, California
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $56,300
Average SAT score: 1228
Student life score: A-
The University of San Diego was established in 1949 when the San Diego College for Women merged with the College for Men, creating one of today’s leading Catholic educational institutions. Also a leader in international study, more than 70% of USD students live and study abroad through 135 programs in 44 countries.
13. University of California at Davis
Location: Davis, California
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $57,100
Average SAT score: 1192
Student life score: A
UC Davis, the northernmost University of California campus, is located just two hours from the Bay Area and is considered one of the most popular feeder schools for Silicon Valley tech companies. Nearly 26,500 undergraduates attend Davis, 21% of which study in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a top-ranking, nationally recognized program in the fields of agriculture and forestry.
12. Loyola Marymount University
Location: Los Angeles, California
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $55,600
Average SAT score: 1202
Student life score: A
One of the largest Catholic universities in the West, Loyola Marymount University combines tradition and ministry with a rigorous academic curriculum. The 105-year-old school neighbors Silicon Beach, the Southern California counterpart to Silicon Valley, where students have access to internships and employment at hundreds of startups and tech companies, including giants like Microsoft, Snapchat, Facebook, and Google.
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