2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region
Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 253 colleges and universities across the Far Western US Region to determine which were the best for veterans and active service members. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including the school's overall quality, the number of GI Bill® recipients at the school, and the percentage of costs covered by the GI Bill®. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Top Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region of the U.S.
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Washington State University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for veterans in the Far Western US Region . Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,635 students in 2019-2020.
Of the 31,159 students enrolled at Wazzu, 1,046 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 566 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,054. On top of their other funding sources, 2 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Oregon State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in the Far Western US Region . Oregon State is located in Corvallis, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7,547 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the 32,312 students enrolled at Oregon State, 1,493 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 930 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,431. During this same period, 22 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Oregon State does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list means San Jose State University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9,595 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the 36,208 students enrolled at San Jose State, 658 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 403 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,381. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. San Jose State also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at San Diego State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in the Far Western US Region . SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,974 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 36,334 students enrolled at SDSU, 1,589 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 855 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,338. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
California State University - Long Beach ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Long Beach, California, the large public school handed out 10,698 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 40,069 students enrolled at CSULB, 803 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 464 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,681. CSULB does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. In addition to its great veterans ranking, CSULB is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
University of Southern California landed the #7 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 17,040 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 1,323 of the 46,287 students enrolled at USC were GI Bill® students, of which 908 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $21,271. In addition to receiving other benefits, 415 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, USC also is in the top 5% of our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking.
With a ranking of #8, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8,250 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the 32,293 students enrolled at Sac State, 804 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 374 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,468. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #9, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11,473 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Our most recent data shows that 661 of the 42,051 students enrolled at Cal State Fullerton were GI Bill® students, of which 349 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,037. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #10 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,147 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Cal Poly Pomona supports 30,014 students, and 539 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 309 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,455. Cal Poly Pomona does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
California State University - East Bay landed the #11 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large public school located in Hayward, California that handed out 4,502 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Cal State East Bay supports 16,253 students, and 370 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 203 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,139. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Portland State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Portland, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,543 students in 2019-2020.
Among the 23,640 students enrolled at Portland State University, 1,179 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 767 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,347. During this same period, 96 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, the large public school awarded 14,925 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 48,149 students enrolled at UW Seattle, 1,278 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 780 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,461. UW Seattle does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. In addition to its great veterans ranking, UW Seattle is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
Central Washington University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 3,188 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, CWU supports 11,174 students, and 686 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 336 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,175. CWU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a ranking of #15, Gonzaga University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Spokane, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,252 students in 2019-2020.
Among the 7,295 students enrolled at Gonzaga, 281 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 248 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $13,710. To help with additional expenses, 74 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. On top of its placing in our veterans ranking, Gonzaga also did well on our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
National University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5,941 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, National University supports 18,070 students, and 4,555 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 4,032 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $9,141. In addition to receiving other benefits, 19 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Alliant International University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Alliant International University is a small private for-profit school located in San Diego, California that handed out 862 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 3,429 students enrolled at Alliant, 85 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 61 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $16,287. To help with additional expenses, 19 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Alliant excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region list.
Eastern Washington University landed the #18 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Cheney, Washington, the fairly large public school awarded 2,966 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, EWU supports 12,349 students, and 648 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 373 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,347. EWU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
San Francisco State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,422 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, SFSU supports 27,349 students, and 876 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 561 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,459. SFSU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #20. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 10,877 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 40,381 students enrolled at CSUN, 712 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 399 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,947. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #21, Golden Gate University - San Francisco did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. Located in San Francisco, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 801 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 2,472 students enrolled at Golden Gate University - San Francisco, 844 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 739 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,949. To help with additional expenses, 75 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. On top of its placing in our veterans ranking, Golden Gate University - San Francisco also did well on our Best Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
California State University - Stanislaus landed the #22 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,792 students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Stan State supports 11,163 students, and 153 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 67 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,794. Stan State does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Oregon Institute of Technology came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. Klamath Falls, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 750 students in 2019-2020.
Among the 5,323 students enrolled at OIT, 173 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 92 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,760. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #24, California State University - Channel Islands did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region list. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 2,154 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 185 of the 7,446 students enrolled at CSUCI were GI Bill® students, of which 101 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,486. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on California State University - Channel Islands
University of Hawaii - West Oahu landed the #25 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Kapolei, Hawaii, the small public school awarded 709 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 3,168 students enrolled at UH West Oahu, 435 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 291 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,528. During this same period, 4 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Rest of the Best 38 Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 38 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for Veterans ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | California State University - San Marcos | San Marcos, CA |
| 40 | Biola University | La Mirada, CA |
| 41 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA |
| 42 | California State University - San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA |
| 43 | Eastern Oregon University | La Grande, OR |
| 44 | John F. Kennedy University | Pleasant Hill, CA |
| 45 | Saint Martin’s University | Lacey, WA |
| 46 | Brandman University | Irvine, CA |
| 47 | California State University - Fresno | Fresno, CA |
| 48 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 49 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 50 | Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, WA |
| 51 | California State University - Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA |
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
**GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
- Removed schools reflect instances of new data identified post-publication that warrant removal of a school from this year’s ranking.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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