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Colleges like Western Governors University: 10 similar schools

The 10 colleges most similar to Western Governors University, ranked by shared features and how close their published figures are.

Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

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Bars show each admit rate on a 0–100% scale.

The colleges most similar to Western Governors University are Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah (average net price $13,397, close to $12,748); Westminster College-Utah (same control type (private nonprofit)); and Brigham Young University-Idaho (graduation rate 52%, close to 50%). Western Governors University has an average net price of $12,748 a year; 1 of its 10 alternatives cost less, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

The score is profile closeness out of 100; the order also counts shared features and location. How matches are scored

Western Governors University vs. its top 10 alternatives

Acceptance rate, average net price per year after grants, six-year graduation rate, median earnings ten years after entry and profile match score for Western Governors University and its closest alternatives.
College	State	Acceptance rate	Net price	Graduation rate	Median earnings	Match score
Western Governors University	UT	Not reported	$12,748	50.4%	$76,999	This college
Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah	UT	67.8%	$13,397	80.8%	$80,228	42/100
Westminster College-Utah	UT	66.6%	$22,516	63.6%	$70,627	42/100
Brigham Young University-Idaho	ID	95.8%	$6,560	52.2%	$56,190	57/100
Regis University-Colorado	CO	86.5%	$18,133	55%	$79,971	53/100
New Saint Andrews College	ID	83.9%	Not reported	52.2%	Not reported	45/100
Northwest Nazarene University	ID	64.7%	$25,262	59.8%	$60,370	45/100
Prescott College	AZ	94.5%	$24,724	33.3%	$47,260	37/100
University of the Southwest	NM	Not reported	$17,550	19.2%	$47,669	36/100
Colorado Christian University	CO	Not reported	$28,605	69.1%	$52,025	35/100
The College of Idaho	ID	49.1%	$19,602	68%	$57,623	34/100

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants; graduation rate is within six years; earnings are ten years after entry. Match score is profile closeness out of 100. “Not reported” means the college sent no figure to the U.S. Department of Education.

Top 10 alternatives to Western Governors University

Ranked by similarity. Each card lists what the college shares with Western Governors University and where it differs.

Match #1

Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah

Provo, UT

Profile closeness42/100

Admit rate68%

32,952 students
Private nonprofit
City: Midsize

Average net price $13,397, close to $12,748
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Graduation rate 81%, well above 50%

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Match #2

Westminster College-Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

Profile closeness42/100

Admit rate67%

823 students
Private nonprofit
City: Midsize

Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 823 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #3

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg, ID

Profile closeness57/100

Admit rate96%

44,397 students
Private nonprofit
Town: Distant

Graduation rate 52%, close to 50%
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 44,397 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #4

Regis University-Colorado

Denver, CO

Profile closeness53/100

Admit rate86%

2,627 students
Private nonprofit
City: Large

Graduation rate 55%, close to 50%
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 2,627 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #5

New Saint Andrews College

Moscow, ID

Profile closeness45/100

Admit rate84%

305 students
Private nonprofit
Town: Distant

Graduation rate 52%, close to 50%
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 305 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #6

Northwest Nazarene University

Nampa, ID

Profile closeness45/100

Admit rate65%

1,024 students
Private nonprofit
Suburb: Midsize

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 1,024 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #7

Prescott College

Prescott, AZ

Profile closeness37/100

Admit rate95%

219 students
Private nonprofit
City: Small

Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 219 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #8

University of the Southwest

Hobbs, NM

Profile closeness36/100

Admit rate—

346 students
Private nonprofit
Rural: Fringe

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 346 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #9

Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, CO

Profile closeness35/100

Admit rate—

5,549 students
Private nonprofit
City: Midsize

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 5,549 students, much smaller than 155,088

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Match #10

The College of Idaho

Caldwell, ID

Profile closeness34/100

Admit rate49%

1,041 students
Private nonprofit
Suburb: Midsize

Same control type (private nonprofit)
Differs: Enrollment 1,041 students, much smaller than 155,088

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How the matches differ from Western Governors University

Graduation rates across the matches run from 19% (University of the Southwest) to 81% (Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah), against 50% at Western Governors University; 8 of 10 graduate a larger share of students.
Median earnings ten years after entry across the matches run from $47,260 (Prescott College) to $80,228 (Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah), against $76,999 at Western Governors University; 2 of 9 report higher earnings.
Enrollment sizes across the matches run from 219 students (Prescott College) to 44,397 students (Brigham Young University-Idaho), against 155,088 students at Western Governors University; 0 of 10 are larger.
2 of 10 matches are in Utah; the others are in AZ, CO, ID, NM.

Questions about Western Governors University alternatives

What colleges are similar to Western Governors University?

The closest matches to Western Governors University are Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah, Westminster College-Utah, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Regis University-Colorado, and New Saint Andrews College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

Which Western Governors University alternatives cost less?

1 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Western Governors University ($12,748 a year), including Brigham Young University-Idaho ($6,560). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.