Occidental College

Los Angeles, California
4-year Private university
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Overview

Occidental College is a private institution established in 1887 with an urban setting located in Los Angeles. It is ranked 35 in National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges. It practices a semester-based academic calendar. Freshmen must live on campus, and they are allowed to have cars. Students can choose from more than 100 clubs and organizations to get involved in on campus. Occidental has a handful of sororities and fraternities and a coed organization. Occidental students can also take classes at CalTech and Art Center College of Design and can earn joint degrees at CalTech, Columbia University, and the University of Southern California’s Keck Graduate Institute. This liberal arts college is notable for its diverse undergraduate student body; about 60 percent of students are Caucasian, about 15 percent are Asian American another 15 percent are Latino, and about 5 percent are African American. Females make up a little more than half of the student population.

#35 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
Setting
Urban
Location Los Angeles, California
Type 4-year Private
Year Founded 1887
Selectivity Moderate
Size Small
1,942 Undergraduates
Website http://www.oxy.edu/

Learning

9:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
Social Sciences
Most Popular Major

Majors Available

  • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • English Language And Literature/Letters
  • Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
  • History
  • Mathematics And Statistics
  • Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies
  • Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Physical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual And Performing Arts

Cost

$80,636
Cost of Attendance
$28,630
Average Student Contribution
Instate Tution Fee $63,446
Outstate Tuition Fee $63,446
Room and Board Fees $18,284
$33,671 Median Salary After 2 years of Graduation

Applying

39% (Moderate Selectivity) Acceptance Rate
Admission Difficulty: Difficult
$70 Application Fee
Application Fee Waiver Available
3.7 Average High School GPA

Application Requirements

SAT/ACT Required
SAT/ACT Writing (essay) Recommended
SAT Subject Test Considered
Essay or Personal Statement Required
SAT Score Range
Middle 50% (25% - 75%) scores range
ACT Score Range
Middle 50% (25% - 75%) scores range

How to Apply?

Accepts CommonApp

For International Students

100 Minimum TOEFL Score
TOEFL Requirement: Required
IELTS, DET Other English Language Tests Accepted
(in lieu of TOEFL)
TOEFL Waived if

your native or first language is English
your high school's primary language of instruction is English, and you have attended the school for more than three years

Deadlines for Fall Intake Applications
Nov
15
Early Decision Deadline
Jan
10
Early Decision II Deadline
Jan
10
Regular Decision Deadline
Transfer Applications
Apr
01
Transfer Applications Deadline
For Financial Aid
Jan
15
Financial Aid Priority Application Deadline
Jan
15
Financial Aid Application Deadline

Scholarships and Financial Aid

$51,951 Average Financial Aid
Need-based Aid available for International Students

Need-based Aid

$43,535 Average Need-based Aid
Cost of Attendance for out-of-state students: $80,636
51% Students with need received Financial Aid
99.9% Students had their need fully met
Deadline for need-based financial application January 15
Forms to be submitted FAFSA, CSS

Merit Scholarships

Available
Margaret Bundy Scott Scholarships
Total Worth amount of $25,000 per year and are renewable for three additional years for a total of up to $100,000.
Eligibility All entering freshmen
Minimum Criteria Based on academic ability, achievement, motivation, and promise
Requirement for maintenance minimum CGPA of 3.25
Separate application needed No
Application deadline N/A
President’s Scholarships
Total Worth $20,000 per year
Eligibility All entering freshmen
Minimum Criteria Based on academic ability, achievement, motivation, and promise
Requirement for maintenance minimum CGPA of 3.0
Separate application needed No
Application deadline N/A

Other Scholarships

Not Available
See all Scholarships

Students

1,942 Total Undergraduate Enrollment
School Size: Small
91% Freshmen return to Sophomore Year
77% Students graduate within 6 years