From sunny beaches to snowy mountains to rainy coasts, the Far West region is beautifully diverse. In addition to a variety of landscapes, the Far West is home to a variety of both well-know and “hidden gem” colleges and universities. The 2025 Hidden Gem Colleges in the Far West spotlights some great schools that you may not have heard of but definitely should learn more about!
What Is a “Hidden Gem?”
Every school on this “hidden gem” college rankings list meets the following criteria:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications per year
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students
- Offer 5 or more unique majors
- Have a 10% acceptance rate or higher
We’re considering the following states as part of the Far West: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
2025 Hidden Gem Colleges in the Far West
Think a Hidden Gem meets what you’re looking for in a college? Check out our choices for Hidden Gem Colleges in the Far West below.
*Note: We feature the top 3 Hidden Gems per state, however not all states had 3 schools that met all of our criteria, and so some may only feature one or two.
ALASKA
UAF, otherwise known as “Alaska,” is a flagship, land grant, space grant, and sea grant school. Blue and gold are the official colors of UAF and the mascot is Nanook, a mighty polar bear of Inuit legend. Ice hockey, skiing, and track are popular sports for the Nanooks. About 65% of applicants are accepted each year.
Location
Fairbanks, AK
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
6,607
The smallest in the trio of University of Alaska schools, Southeast is located in the state capital and is further divided into three campuses: Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan. Southeast’s mascot is Spike the Humpback Whale. The school has a 63% acceptance rate and top majors at UAS include Business Administration and Elementary Education.
Location
Juneau, AK
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,923
Alaska Pacific University, also known as APU, was originally called the Alaska Methodist University when established in 1957. It is right next to the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Native Medical Center. APU offers up to the doctor’s degree level of education. 96% of students receive institutional financial aid to help cover costs.
Location
Anchorage, AK
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
595
CALIFORNIA
Harvey Mudd College offers programs only related to Science and Engineering. It has an 13% acceptance rate, 97% first year retention rate, and a 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Part of the Claremont Colleges, their colors are black and gold. The men’s teams are known as the Stags and the women are known as the Athenas.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
922
A member of the Claremont Colleges, Scripps College is a private liberal arts women’s school. It’s known for its historic campus as well as its extensive curriculum. The campus is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places and often gets mentioned for its beautiful grounds. Political Science and Government, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Biology are top majors.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,099
Founded in 1937, Westmont College’s motto is Christus Primatum Tenens, which is Latin for “Christ Holding Preeminence.” The school was initially a Bible Missionary Institute but would become Westmont College only 3 years later. 97% of those attending the college receive institutional grant aid (about $29,640 on average per student).
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,284
HAWAII
Chaminade University of Honolulu is the only Catholic University in Hawaii and the school accepts 93% of applicants. With a 71% first year retention rate, the school has a 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Top majors include Registered Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration and Management, and Elementary Education.
Location
Honolulu, HI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,369
Part of the University of Hawaii system, West Oahu’s (UHWO) motto is Maluna aʻe o nā lāhui āpau ke ola ke kānaka. This is Hawaiian for “Above all nations is humanity.” 96% of students who apply are accepted, with 33% of these students deciding to attend UHWO the following fall. Many will go onto major in Business Administration and Management and Social Sciences.
Location
Kapolei, HI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,913
A liberal arts school, UH Hilo’s most popular majors include Business Administration and Management, Pharmacy, and Psychology. Red and black are the colors of the Vulcans, who compete in the PacWest conference. Students come from all over the country to study at UH Hilo, though 62% are from the state of Hawaii itself.
Location
Hilo, HI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,977
NEVADA*
Located at the foot of Mount Scorpion Mountain, Nevada State College practices sustainable principles on their 511-acre campus. While NSC is a very ethnically diverse school, 99% of students call Nevada their home state. The most popular major by far is Registered Nursing and about 89% of students receive grant aid.
Location
Henderson, NV
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
7,169
OREGON
Willamette University is the oldest university found in the western part of the United States. It was founded in 1842 as the Oregon Institute. Today, the school accepts about 79% of students and it's free to apply. There are about 350 athletes known as the Bearcats. Wearing cardinal and gold, they participate in 20 different varsity sports in the Northwest Conference.
Location
Salem, OR
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,909
George Fox University, also known as GFU, is a private Christian university. With an 79% first year retention rate, the school also has a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Student athletes at GFU are known as the Bruins and are members of the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference. Their colors are navy blue and gold.
Location
Newberg, OR
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,028
Pacific University has four total campuses, though the main one is in Forest Grove, OR. Offering up to a doctor’s degree, Pacific University's student body is 46% undergraduates and 54% graduates. Biology, Kinesiology, and Psychology are the most popular majors.
Location
Forest Grove, OR
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,559
WASHINGTON
Sharing a campus with Cascadia College, University of Washington's Bothell Campus is actually the largest campus branch in the state. Over 95% of students are from Washington. UW Bothell has over 50 majors, to most popular of which are Computer Science, Registered Nursing, and Business Administration. 85% of students stay at the school after their first year.
Location
Bothell, WA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
5,735
Northwestern University is a Christian affiliated university that sits on 56 acres overlooking Lake Washington. The school has an 88% acceptance rate and a $30 application fee. Top majors for students include Registered Nursing and Business Administration.
Location
Kirkland, WA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,014
Whitworth University’s motto is, “Education of Mind and Heart.” The most common majors among students are Psychology, Biology, and Business Administration and Management. Whitworth’s colors are crimson and black.
Location
Spokane, WA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,415
*Note: While Nevada did not have any colleges that qualified under our Hidden Gems criteria this year, we included the closest match. In the spirit of Hidden Gems, we feel it’s important to include schools from all states, so students and families know about the opportunities around them.
Why Should You Consider Going to a Hidden Gem?
Even if you’ve never heard of the college, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go there. There are nearly 4,000 schools that grant degrees in the United States, with hundreds in the Far West alone. It’s impossible to know them all.
College Raptor’s Hidden Gems are top rated schools that simply don’t get as many applications as the big names, like Stanford University and CalTech, for example. Almost all Hidden Gem schools are pulled from the top 33% of our own overall rankings, which considers things like diversity, endowment, graduation rates, and more. As a result, most of these schools on our Hidden Gems list will have solid statistics backing them up.
Here are a few reasons why Hidden Gem schools should be on your radar:
- They tend to be less expensive.
- They’re perfect for students who want a smaller to mid-sized school.
- They can be easier to get into. (But not always)
- They have still have a selection of quality programs
Hidden gems tend to be smaller to medium sized schools that are less well-known outside their local area or state. For students who would love to attend a smaller college with outstanding programs, these can be top options.
Why is the Far West a Great Place to Go to School?
The Far West is home to several National Parks, including the largest in the country – Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska. So, exploring the many outdoor wonders is reason number one that the Far West is a great place to go to school. For those who love the ocean, there is surfing, beach volleyball, and bonfires. And of course, mountain lovers can wander and camp in the Pacific Coast Ranges.
In addition to enjoying diverse outdoor activities, the region is great for foodies who enjoy anything from farm-to-table restaurants to a diverse international food culture. The cities in the Far West are also home to tons of museums and the country’s number one-rated zoo — the San Diego Zoo. There is literally something here for everyone to enjoy.
Interested in any of these Far West Hidden Gem colleges? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
College Raptor is a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. As such we are uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
