Taking the leap to transfer colleges can be daunting whether you planned for it or not, but it doesn’t have to be! Finding a school where you belong should be exciting, even if it’s the second time around. We want to make the process easier by helping you find amazing colleges and universities that are looking for transfer students just like you. The schools listed below are all located in the Western US (be sure to check out our lists for all the other regions of the country too!). The best part is the green “Connect me” buttons that allow you to connect directly with the schools. Start requesting information from these great transfer options now.
Dominican University of California
Dominican University of California is an independent Catholic Heritage university located in San Rafael, California. The University enrolls nearly 2,000 students and offers over 60 majors, minors, and concentrations as well as service learning trips, internships, fieldwork, community-based research, and global learning opportunities. Dominican is test-optional but does evaluate each transfer applicant’s academics; leadership both inside and outside the classroom; recommendations from teachers, counselors, or community leaders; and a personal essay.
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private church-affiliated arts and sciences university in Malibu, California—only 12 miles from Santa Monica. With around 3,400 undergraduates and a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, students can choose from 45 majors and 40 minors, including Business Administration, Engineering, Media Production, and more. Pepperdine supports students by offering transfer mentors and admission counselors, articulation agreements with local community colleges, and more.
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university in Santa Clara, California—45 miles south of San Francisco. With 5,571 undergraduates and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, students can choose from more than 50 majors, minors, and programs, including Ancient Studies, Environmental Studies, Political Science, and more. Santa Clara supports transfer students by allowing them to transfer up to half the units required for finishing their degree, plus articulation agreements with many community colleges and more.
University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a comprehensive public university in Boulder, Colorado—27 miles northwest of Denver. With 34,975 total students and an 18:1 student-faculty ratio, students can choose from over 47 majors, 25 minors, and 26 certificate programs across 150 fields of study. CU Boulder supports transfer students by offering pre-transfer advisors to schedule one-on-one appointments with, articulation agreements with community colleges statewide, and more.
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 nearly 70 countries. U of I offers its I Transfer tool to help transfer students get a preliminary look at how courses will transfer and apply to their intended degree as well as to general education requirements to start the transfer process off right.
Looking to transfer to a school farther east? Check out this list of Great Colleges and Universities in the Midwest for Transfer Students.
