University of Redlands

A true hidden gem in Southern California, the University of Redlands provides its students with an innovative and personalized liberal arts curriculum balanced with an emphasis on pre-professional preparation. Redlands offers its students an array of over 50 unique programs of study; business is the most popular major, and students in the Redlands School of Business & Society have the option of completing their capstone requirement through a position at a consulting firm, either domestically, or internationally. Regardless of major, all Redlands students must complete 80 hours of community service and complete a capstone internship or research project. The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies is the university’s signature program: an experimental living and learning community, Johnston Center students forge an academic contract with a faculty advisor that details a personalized program of study in an interdisciplinary area of interest. In addition to offering up to $31,000 annually in merit aid for academically qualified students, Redlands abides by the Redlands Promise, which guarantees the cost of tuition for students unable to graduate in four years. 

Admit Rate: 68%  Cost of Attendance: $71,624

Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo

Located on California's central coast (just 20 minutes from the beach!) Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (SLO for short) is a part of the Cal State University system. The university boasts one of the largest college campuses in the country and offers an undergraduate population of 22,000 a choice among 65 bachelor’s degrees. Academically, Cal Poly sets itself apart for its focus on undergraduate education and for championing a “Learn By Doing” approach to curriculum. To that end, all undergraduates are required to complete a senior project that reflects upon the sum of their college learning. Most popular (and most impacted) undergraduate majors include Business, Engineering, Computer Science, and Architecture. Interested students and their families should note: Cal Poly requires applicants to choose a major upon applying.

Admit Rate: 29.3%  Cost of Attendance: $44,742 out-of-state

San Diego State University 

Students looking for sunshine, industry connections, and leading programs in International Business and Entrepreneurship, should give San Diego State University a closer look. Celebrated for its ethnically and racially diverse student body and is a  designated Hispanic-serving institution, SDSU has hosted speeches from both John F. Kennedy Jr. and Martin Luther King Jr in 1963 and 1964 respectfully. Additionally, SDSU was the first university in California to offer degrees in LGBT Studies, and today offers its undergraduates a choice of bachelor’s degrees in 96 areas.

Admit Rate: 36%  Cost of Attendance: $42,120 out-of-state

University of Oregon

Set on a 205-acre arboretum, the University of Oregon offers its students stand-out programs in Business, Communications, Journalism, and Design, in addition to nearly 300 majors and minors. Nearly one-quarter of incoming freshmen are undecided on their major, making Oregon an excellent choice for students who hope to explore. Thanks to generous donations from from Oregon alumnus and Nike co-founder, Phil Knight, undergraduate ducks can take advantage of interdisciplinary research through the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact or sharing their work in the undergraduate research symposium. 

Admit Rate: 83%. Cost of Attendance: $55,763

Gonzaga University 

Located in Spokane, Washington (known for being part of the eastern “sunny side of the state”), Gonzaga University offers a Jesuit-inspired liberal arts education with exceptional school spirit and stand-out programs in accounting, nursing, engineering, and integrated media studies. Gonzaga students can choose among 49 majors, and especially motivated students might consider the university’s honors program or supplement their major by participating in the highly-selective Comprehensive Leadership Program. 

Admit Rate: 67%  Cost of Attendance: $64,802

Arizona State University 

One of the nation’s largest universities by enrollment, Arizona State University is a leader in higher education innovation and states in its charter that a university’s mission should be “measured not by whom we exclude, but by whom we include and how they succeed.” Comprised of 17 Colleges and Schools in Tempe and the surrounding Phoenix Metroplex, ASU offers over 350 undergraduate majors. While the sheer size of offerings may seem overwhelming, ASU offers interactive resources to match students’ learning and career goals with ASU majors. 

Admit Rate: 88%  Cost of Attendance: $47,668 out-of-state

University of San Francisco 

Perched on a scenic hilltop, the University of San Francisco is a mid-size university driven by Jesuit values and views of the Golden Gate. USF offers over 40 majors and 70 minors distributed across the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, and School of Nursing and Health Professions. Nursing, Computer Science, and Psychology are the most popular majors, and USF added a new BS in Engineering that harnesses connections with the city’s top tech firms. 

Admit Rate: 64%  Cost of Attendance: $73,872

Sonoma State University 

The smallest college on California’s roster of State Universities, Sonoma State University is located an hour north of San Francisco in the heart of wine country. Home to approximately 8,000 undergraduates Sonoma State prides itself on its undergraduate focus and offers in 46 unique major areas. Popular programs include Psychology, Nursing, and Business, and the university is one of the few in the country to offer a degree in the Wine Business. The Hutchins School of Liberal Studies is the university’s signature interdisciplinary learning community that offers motivated students hands-on, seminar-style coursework en route to a focused liberal arts degree or teaching credential. Around 34% of undergraduates live on campus and the university offers some of the nicest college housing in the state in addition to a newly-renovated, state-of-the-art recreation center. 

Admit Rate: 89% Cost of Attendance: $38,604

University of Puget Sound

Another of the Colleges That Change Lives, the University of Puget Sound is a close-knit liberal arts college known for its comprehensive yet collaborative academic programs and is in the top 10 institutions producing Peace Corps volunteers. Located in Tacoma, Washington, just 30 miles north of Seattle, the UPS campus brims with the same collegiate-gothic architecture that’s prevalent in many East Coast peer institutions.  UPS offers over 50 undergraduate majors, and their stand-out programs are interdisciplinary, such as Business and Leadership, Environmental Policy & Decision-making, and Interdisciplinary Bioethics. Students with the most specialized interests are encouraged to design their own major under the guidance of a faculty advisor. 

Admit Rate: 86%  Cost of Attendance: $69,661

Seattle University 

Students looking for a service and community-oriented education with a desire for city-living should check out Seattle University. Situated in the heart of downtown Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where entertainment and dining options abound, Seattle University is home to approximately 5,000 undergraduates who are educated in the Jesuit Tradition. The result is a student body of community-minded and curious individuals who are passionate about social justice and serving their communities. In fact, Seattle University students and staff contribute over 200,000 hours of service to their communities annually, whether through service learning requirements, service-based student organizations, or both. Seattle U’s standout academic programs include those in the prestigious Albers School of Business and Economics (Finance, marketing, accounting), as well as the School of Nursing. High-achieving students are often awarded merit scholarships of up to $14,500 annually. 



Admit Rate: 83%  Cost of Attendance: $65,970