2023 Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 166 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which online programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Out of the 166 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Monica College landed the # 2 spot on the list. SMC is a public institution located in Santa Monica, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,388 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from SMC accumulate an average of $13,428 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from SMC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $70,951 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend National University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region list. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 6,953 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $31,362 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $198.After graduating from National University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,580 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rio Hondo College is a great place for students. Rio Hondo College is a fairly large public school located in Whittier, California that handed out 3,764 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,088 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, RHCCD graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $76,455 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Merced College is a great place for students. This medium-sized public school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 2,930 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,785 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Merced Community College District graduates make an average of $54,460 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Brandman University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #6 on the list. Brandman is located in Irvine, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,462 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Brandman accumulate an average of $29,571 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Brandman graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,858 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in San Mateo, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 1,454 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of $18,438 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $118, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,087 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
Lane Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #8 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and it awarded 2,010 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $20,604 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Lane Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,649 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
San Bernardino Valley College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,129 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from San Bernardino Valley College accumulate an average of $11,095 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, San Bernardino Valley College graduates make an average of $41,038 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Central Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #10 on the list. Ellensburg, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,496 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $22,759 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $204. Once they receive their degree, CWU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,823 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Chemeketa Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Chemeketa Community College is a public institution located in Salem, Oregon. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,778 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,900 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Chemeketa Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,860 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Los Angeles Harbor College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Wilmington, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,969 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,633 in student loans.After graduating from LAHC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,999 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Northcentral University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Northcentral University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,145 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $28,423 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Northcentral University graduates make an average of $56,007 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
With a ranking of #14, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in San Marcos, California, the medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 1,531 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Once they receive their degree, USAHS graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $70,345 during the early year of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
College of San Mateo ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region list. San Mateo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,124 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $16,091 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, CSM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,787 during the early year of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #16, Academy of Art University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in San Francisco, California, the medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 1,729 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $35,400 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $877. During the early years of their career, Academy of Art University graduates make an average of $35,075 annually. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Compton College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Compton College is a small public school situated in Compton, California. It awarded 653 degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 77% of those degree recipients were women.
University of the People did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,300 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Around 35% of those degree recipients were women.
Saddleback College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Mission Viejo, California, the fairly large public school handed out 6,479 degrees in 2020-2021.
Once they receive their degree, Saddleback College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $73,348 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,335 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UAF accumulate an average of $25,525 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, UAF graduates make an average of $45,077 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Santa Barbara City College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. SBCC is located in Santa Barbara, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,676 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $18,628 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, SBCC graduates make an average of $53,400 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Portland Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Portland, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,793 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $23,959 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Portland Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,075 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
University of Alaska Anchorage landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. University of Alaska Anchorage is a fairly large public school located in Anchorage, Alaska that handed out 2,079 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UAA accumulate an average of $23,842 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from UAA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,843 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Clackamas Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #24 on the list. Clackamas Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Oregon City, Oregon. It awarded 888 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $17,726 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Clackamas Community College graduates make an average of $31,312 annually. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Eastern Oregon University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. EOU is a small public school situated in La Grande, Oregon. It awarded 831 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,594 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, EOU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,432 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular online schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Klamath Community College | Klamath Falls, OR |
| 27 | Western Nevada College | Carson City, NV |
| 28 | San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia, CA |
| 28 | Fresno Pacific University | Fresno, CA |
| 30 | Rogue Community College | Grants Pass, OR |
| 31 | Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA |
| 32 | Oregon Institute of Technology | Klamath Falls, OR |
| 33 | Azusa Pacific University College | San Dimas, CA |
| 34 | American College of Healthcare Sciences | Portland, OR |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
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).
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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