The West Coast Conference is an NCAA Division I athletic conference with members coming from California, Oregon and Washington. The conference headquarters are located in San Bruno, California. All members have religious affiliations, seven of them Catholic. The West Coast Conference has a stronger academic profile than the majority of Division I athletic conferences. The WCC sponsors 13 sports (not football).
1. Brigham Young University
DOliphant / Flickr
Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University is the largest religious university and the second largest private university in the United States.
- Location: Provo, Utah
- School type: Private, Latter-Day Saints
- Undergraduate enrollment: 30,873 (2007)
- Team: Cougars
- For admissions and financial data, see the Brigham Young University profile
2. Gonzaga University
Christine Salek / Flickr
Gonzaga University, named after 16th-century Italian Jesuit saint Aloysius Gonzaga, sits on the banks of the Spokane River. Like most Catholic universities, Gonzaga's educational philosophy focuses on the whole person -- mind, body and spirit. The university ranks highly among master's institutions in the West, and the school made my list of top Catholic colleges and top Washington colleges.
3. Loyoloa Marymount University
Adan Garcia / Flickr
Located on a beautiful 150 acre campus, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is the largest Catholic university on the West Coast. The average undergraduate class size is 18, and the school boasts a 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Undergraduate student life is active at Loyola Marymount with 144 clubs and organizations and 15 national Greek fraternities and sororities. Loyola Marymount made my list of top Catholic colleges.
4. Pepperdine University
John Beagle / Flickr
Pepperdine University's 830-acre campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The university is made up of five different schools with the majority of undergraduate programs housed in the Seaver College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Business Administration is by far the most popular undergraduate major, and programs relating to communications and the media are also popular. Pepperdine made my list of top California colleges.
5. Portland, University of
Svyatoslav / Wikimedia Commons
The University of Portland is committed to teaching, faith and service. The school frequently ranks well among the best western master's universities, and it also earns high marks for its value. The school has a 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and among undergraduates nursing, engineering and business fields are all popular. The engineering programs frequently place well in national rankings. The University of Portland made my list of top Catholic colleges.
6. Saint Mary's College of California
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Saint Mary's College of California is located about 20 miles east of San Francisco. The college has an 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 20. Students can choose from 38 majors, and among undergraduates business is the most popular program. One of the defining features of the Saint Mary's curriculum is the Collegiate Seminar, a series of four courses that focus on the major works of Western civilization. All students, including those in pre-professional fields, take these seminars -- two in the first year, and two more before graduation.
7. San Diego, University of
Chris Palmer / Wikimedia Commons
The University of San Diego has a stunning 180-acre campus defined by its Spanish Renaissance architecture style and views of Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Beaches, mountains, desert and Mexico are all within an easy drive. The University of San Diego was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences.
8. San Francisco, University of
Allan Ferguson / Flickr
Located right in the heart of San Francisco, the university of San Francisco takes pride in its Jesuit tradition and emphasizes service learning, global awareness, diversity and environmental sustainability. USF offers students numerous international opportunities including 50 study abroad programs in 30 countries. The university has an average class size of 28 and a 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio. The sciences, social sciences and business fields are extremely popular among undergraduates.
9. Santa Clara University
Photo Credit: Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University frequently ranks among the best master's universities in the country, and the school made my list of top Catholic colleges. This Jesuit, Catholic university has impressive retention and graduation rates. The university also wins high marks for its community service programs, alumni salaries, and sustainability efforts. Programs in business are the most popular among undergraduates, and the Leavey School of Business ranks highly among the nation's undergraduate B-schools.
