Diving deep into the practical knowledge and applications of STEM opens the door to endless possibilities, and Science and Engineering majors offer just that. With a huge variety of options to choose from, this comprehensive list is a great place for science-minded students to start their college search! All the colleges and universities below are located in the Western United States (with one international option!) and have strong academic programs geared toward STEM-related disciplines. If you want to connect with a school you find here, just click the “Connect me” button underneath each listing—then they’ll reach out to you with more information. Start discovering great places to study science and engineering now!
California Baptist University
California Baptist University is a private church-affiliated liberal arts university in Riverside, California—60 miles east of Los Angeles. CBU’s College of Engineering offers 10 bachelor’s degree programs ranging from Biomedical Engineering to Software Engineering. Each CBU Engineering student will experience a wide variety of hands-on learning activities, including local business internships and cross-cultural projects.
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University is a private religious university in Lakewood, Colorado—only 10 miles from Denver. With a 15:1 student-faculty ratio and over 180 ministry hours performed per year, CCU offers its 8,400 students over 100 majors, minors, and emphases to choose from. Students considering a career in science and engineering can major in Engineering Project Management, Health Sciences Kinesiology & Exercise Science, Nursing, and more.
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public research university for engineering and applied sciences in Golden, Colorado—20 miles west of Denver. The Mines curriculum is broad and rigorous with an emphasis on hands-on experiences and collaborative approaches, offered to more than 7,000 students through 21 majors in five broad fields. Science and engineering students can major in Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Mining Engineering, Quantum Engineering, and more.
Concordia University Irvine
Concordia University Irvine is a church-affiliated university located 50 miles south of Los Angeles in Irvine, California. CUI trains students in experimental design, proposal writing and submission, real-world constraints on data collection, statistical data analysis, and a variety of other research protocols. On-campus facilities like the Marine Lab and Heritage Garden are dedicated to advanced instruction and undergraduate research.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Arizona)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university devoted exclusively to the field of aviation that’s located two miles from Prescott's airport and 90 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. The Aerospace Engineering program is among the largest in the nation and has earned the #1 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s College Rankings guide for nearly two decades. An applied, hands-on approach is supported by state-of-the-art labs, opportunities to take part in prestigious academic competitions around the world, and a reputation in an industry that attracts employers seeking interns and passionate professionals.
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Santa Clara, 45 miles south of San Francisco, California. Students with an interest in engineering can pursue majors including Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and more. Opening in fall 2021, a new state-of-the-art STEM complex with top-notch labs and design spaces will be an inviting home where Santa Clara students can discover, experiment, and innovate like never before.
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution located four miles from downtown Fairbanks in central Alaska. UAF is a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution, specializing in practical engineering for extreme environments, arctic landscapes and wildlife, Earth sciences, climate change, and much more. Students utilize the skills and knowledge they gain in practical ways through student research, fieldwork, and national and international competitions.
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder is a public university 27 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado. CU Boulder is a Tier 1 research university with over 50 years of partnership with local federal research labs, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Students can create their own path by mixing majors, minors, certificates, and electives in business, art and technology, entrepreneurship, teaching, and global engineering.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is a comprehensive public land-grant institution in Moscow, Idaho—90 miles southeast of Spokane, Washington. With over 11,800 students and a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, the University offers 93 undergraduate majors, including Biotechnology & Plan Genomics and Water Science & Management; 79 master’s programs; and 33 doctoral degrees. Students at U of I can take advantage of research opportunities amassing over $109.5 million annually, nine research and extension centers, student groups like the Environmental Club, and more.
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private church-affiliated institution just four miles from downtown Portland, Oregon. Engineering and Computer Science majors are admitted directly into the Shiley School of Engineering, with access to labs, a makerspace, manufacturing shop facilities, and computer labs. Coursework and projects emphasize teamwork, experimentation, and innovation integrated with theory, analysis, and design.
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Western Washington University
Western Washington University is a public comprehensive university located in Bellingham, Washington. The University offers more than 175 academic programs, the most popular including Biology, Business, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, and Psychology. Western students have created one of the nation’s first campus recycling programs, developed tiny homes to address affordable housing and environmental sustainability needs, developed the first completely transparent solar window, and much more.
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Whitworth University
Whitworth University is a private Presbyterian liberal arts university in Spokane, Washington. Whitworth offers more than 100 majors and programs—including popular majors in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, and Environmental Science/Environmental Studies—to a student body of more than 2,700 who learn in classes with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. All STEM majors take general education classes that equip them with critical thinking, communication, intercultural, and problem-solving skills.
Interested in exploring even more colleges that offer great STEM programs? Check out our full list of featured Science and Engineering School Profiles!
