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Occidental College

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · City · 1,877 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$38,263
Average net priceYour net price
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
83%
Graduation rate
69% typical
$75,951
Earnings 10 years on
$58,391 typical
44%
Acceptance rate
64% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

Occidental College is a distinguished liberal arts institution in Los Angeles, celebrated for seamlessly integrating rigorous academics with the vast professional and cultural resources of a major global metropolis. Oxy is particularly renowned for its top-tier programs in Diplomacy and World Affairs, Urban and Environmental Policy, and Media Arts and Culture, which are bolstered by unique signature offerings like the Kahane United Nations Program and Campaign Semester. The campus culture is defined by an inclusive, collaborative, and socially conscious student body that is deeply engaged in civic activism and faculty-mentored undergraduate research. Situated in the historic Eagle Rock neighborhood, Occidental provides an intimate, palm-lined residential community that simultaneously serves as a direct launchpad for internships across LA’s thriving civic, scientific, and entertainment sectors.

Wikipedia:Occidental College is a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1887 as a coeducational college by clergy and members of the Presbyterian Church, it became non-sectarian in 1910. It is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast of the United States.

Location
Los Angeles, CA, 90041-3392 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
LAX · Los Angeles
17 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$66,274
Housing & food (on campus)$19,252
Books & supplies$1,250
Cost of attendance$95,365
Average net price$38,263
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$66,274
Housing & food (on campus)$19,252
Books & supplies$1,250
Cost of attendance$95,365
Average net price$38,263
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.oxy.edu
How it’s made up
Tuition$70,492
Fees$611
Books & supplies$1,290
Personal expenses$1,950
Total published by the school$95,365
Source: www.oxy.edu
Net price by family income
$0–30k
$20,705
$30–48k
$17,655
$48–75k
$21,468
$75–110k
$28,033
$110k+
$54,959
Grants from the school
75% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $33,952
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Merit aid
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$17,481
Share of first-years who get one37%
Source: Occidental College's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
83%
Within 4 yrs
68%
Back for yr 2
90%
Transferred
11%
Pell students: 85.7% · others: 79.7% 
8 yrs after starting
83% graduated · 13% transferred · 4% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$52,209
10 yrs after entry$75,951
Debt
Median at graduation$23,000
Monthly payment$244
Middle 50% owe$12k–$27k
90th percentile$32,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — arts & sciences: 69% graduate within 6 yrs, $58,391 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
44%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1452
R 690–750 · M 690–770
ACT midpoint
32
Comp 31–34 · E 33–35 · M 28–33
SAT middle 50%: 1380–1520
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 40.6% · women 46.7% 
Yield: 17.8% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts
From Occidental College (oxy.edu) · 2026–27 application · checked Sep 28, 2026
  • Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests?
    250 words max · Optional

Quoted from Occidental College's own page; answered in the Common App or Coalition on Scoir. The application itself is the final word.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 41%Women 59%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
9 : 1
Pell grant
17%
First-gen
18%
Family income
$76,004
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
1%
Where first-years come from
In state (CA)
42.6%
Out of state
48.3%
International
7.7%

Most out-of-state first-years from: WA 36 · NY 25 · OR 22 · MA 18 · CO 17

Race & ethnicity
White
46%
Hispanic
18%
Black
4%
Asian
16%
Two or more
10%
Non-resident
5%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III without football
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Water Polo
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$52,209
After 10 yrs
$75,951
Economics73
Research and Experimental Psychology54
International Relations and National Security Studies50
Biology, General38
Computer Science31
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services24
Cognitive Science24
Natural Resources Conservation and Research23
Film/Video and Photographic Arts21
Political Science and Government18
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology17
Mathematics17
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness16
Sociology16
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis15
Music15
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$654M
Full-time faculty
75%
Faculty salary
$12,349/mo
Teaching spend
$24,676
per student
Federal loans
37%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — arts & sciences
Research activity
Research college or university
$6M research spending
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Occidental College is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search