2026 Best Best Schools in the Far Western Region
Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 51 schools to find the best for best students.
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Best Schools for Best in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Best
Leading the list is University Of Southern California, our #1 school for best. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 49 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 36 best degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of San Diego one of the top schools for best. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 39 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $97,944 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
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Grossmont College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. There were roughly 48 best students who graduated with this degree at Grossmont College in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Davis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $65,299. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #6 for best this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 best degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $42,421. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
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Seattle University came in at #7 for best this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Seattle University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 best students who graduated with this degree at Seattle University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $37,557 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
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City University Of Seattle ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Seattle, City University Of Seattle is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 20 best degrees were awarded at City University Of Seattle in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from City University Of Seattle generally make around $76,698. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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California State University Los Angeles came in at #9 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 20 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $66,598 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans.
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Green River Community College earned the #10 position for best this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public institution. About 20 best degrees were awarded at Green River Community College in the most recent year.
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Seattle Community College North Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College North Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. About 14 best degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College North Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Seattle Community College North Campus earn around $48,739 in the first couple years of their career. Seattle Community College North Campus graduates carry a median of $16,643 in student loans.
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East Los Angeles College landed the #12 spot for best this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. East Los Angeles College awarded about 69 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from East Los Angeles College generally make around $33,595. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans.
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Moreno Valley College landed the #13 spot for best this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Moreno Valley. Moreno Valley College awarded about 22 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $45,515 in their early career. Moreno Valley College graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans.
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National University placed #14 among the best best schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 163 best students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of National University earn a median of $50,462 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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College Of Southern Nevada earned the #15 position for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Las Vegas. About 58 best degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $29,354. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Chaminade University Of Honolulu landed the #16 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, Chaminade University Of Honolulu is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Chaminade University Of Honolulu graduates 65% of students within six years. About 16 best degrees were awarded at Chaminade University Of Honolulu in the most recent year. Best graduates of Chaminade University Of Honolulu earn a median of $48,383 early in their careers. Chaminade University Of Honolulu graduates carry a median of $25,096 in student loans.
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Rio Hondo College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the rural area of Whittier. Rio Hondo College awarded about 17 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $95,666 in their early career. Rio Hondo College graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans.
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Long Beach City College landed the #18 spot for best this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. There were roughly 22 best students who graduated with this degree at Long Beach City College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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Riverside City College earned the #19 position for best this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. There were roughly 11 best students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,767 to complete this degree.
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Chemeketa Community College came in at #20 for best this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Salem. About 15 best degrees were awarded at Chemeketa Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Chemeketa Community College earn around $45,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,755.
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Norco College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Norco. Norco College awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Norco College graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans.
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Charter College Anchorage landed the #22 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Anchorage, Charter College Anchorage is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Charter College Anchorage awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $41,123 in their early career. Charter College Anchorage graduates carry a median of $19,411 in student loans.
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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 · 51 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
