Looking for highly specialized training in your field of interest or unparalleled research experiences at national universities? You’ll find them here on this list of great research and specialized institutions in the Western US. We’ve highlighted each school’s enrollment, programs of study, and opportunities to take your learning to the next level. If something sounds particularly interesting, click the green “Connect me” button underneath each school, and they’ll be in touch with more information. Researching colleges has never been so easy!
ArtCenter College of Design
ArtCenter College of Design is a private specialized art institution in Pasadena, California—only three miles from the city’s Rose Bowl Stadium. The College offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate programs—as well as minors in Business, Creative Writing, Material Science, Research, and Social Innovation—to its 2,400+ students. There are numerous ways to get involved with the campus community through leadership skill development, student clubs and organizations, volunteering with local groups, and tapping Southern California's vast cultural resources.
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Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The University is home to more than 23,000 undergraduates pursuing 70+ majors and hundreds of concentrations, with over 3,600 graduate students enrolled in 100+ upper-level programs. As a Carnegie-classified high research activity university, CSU offers research opportunities not only in the sciences but everything from the arts to the environment to cultural history, with 90% of freshmen reporting they’re “solving complex, real-world problems.”
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university devoted to the field of aviation, with one of two campuses in Prescott, Arizona—around 90 miles from Phoenix. ERAU offers the largest professional flight program in the nation, with 3,000+ students on the Arizona campus as well as academic programs like Business, Meteorology, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Global Security & Intelligence Studies, Space Physics, Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination, and Simulation Science & Gaming. The Prescott campus also offers an eight-and-a-half-acre aircraft accident investigation lab, Air Force and Army ROTC programs, and mild weather year-round that’s perfect for flying.
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Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and located in Malibu, California—12 miles from Santa Monica. Pepperdine’s campus is home to approximately 3,300 undergraduates from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, religious, ethnic, geographic, and academic backgrounds who pursue 46 majors and 47 minors. With more than 110 student clubs and organizations, an active student government, Greek life, 1,000+ on-campus events each year, and more, there’s always an opportunity for students to build lasting friendships.
Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research institution located in Stanford, California. The University offers its 7,800+ undergraduates and 9,600+ graduate students more than 70 majors and nearly 200 graduate fields of study to choose from through the Schools of Business; Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences; Education; Engineering; Humanities & Sciences; Law; and Medicine. At Stanford, most students supplement their classroom education with experiential learning opportunities like internships and research, with over $6 million available in undergraduate research funding per year—more than most colleges or universities in the nation.
University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a comprehensive public research university in Boulder, Colorado—27 miles northwest of Denver. CU Boulder offers 150 fields of study and 4,000 academic courses through the Colleges of Arts & Sciences; Engineering & Applied Science; Music; and Media, Communication & Information as well as the Schools of Business and Education. The University’s 39,000 students enjoy a customized education that combines dynamic academic programs, hands-on learning opportunities, and rigorous coursework.
University of Denver
The University of Denver is a private research university located just eight miles from downtown Denver, Colorado. Approximately 6,000 undergraduates are enrolled in over 100 academic programs, with 8,000 graduate students pursuing 120 additional programs across 10 schools and colleges. Both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to work with faculty on projects in their fields, including original research that results in summer-long projects and publications.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is a public comprehensive land-grant research institution in Moscow, Idaho—90 miles southeast of Spokane, Washington. The University offers more than 100 programs from the associate to doctoral level to 10,000+ students from every state and 73 countries. U of I is consistently ranked as the most beautiful college campus in Idaho and allows students to explore unmatched opportunities with over $109.5 million dedicated to research experiences annually.
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is an R1 land-grant research university located in Reno, Nevada. Nearly 21,000 students have more than 150 leading-edge programs to choose from as well as opportunities for unmatched hands-on experience through the Division of Research & Innovation to enhance the academic experience. With 250+ clubs and organizations, UNR students can connect with peers, mentors, and faculty while pursuing their personal interests and future career goals on a technologically advanced and welcoming campus.
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university located in Pullman, Washington—75 miles south of Spokane. With more than 19,000 students, WSU offers over 200 fields of study, including 95 majors, 86 minors, and 100+ in-major specializations for undergrads as well as 65 doctoral programs, 79 master's degree programs, and professional degrees in Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. Students also have their choice of 565 study abroad programs in more than 70 countries and can participate in research that targets critical national and global challenges.
Looking for the same type of academic opportunities in a different part of the country? Check out our other lists of featured research universities and specialized colleges across the US.
