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Los Angeles , CA
Occidental College is a private liberal arts college located in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1887, it has been consistently recognized as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. The campus is spread across a picturesque 120-acre hilltop and offers a serene and close-knit community for its diverse student body.
Known for its strong commitment to academic excellence and intellectual curiosity, Occidental College offers over 40 majors and minors in various fields of study. The college prides itself on its student-faculty ratio of 10:1, ensuring personalized attention and mentorship for its students. The rigorous curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, analysis, and practical problem-solving skills, preparing students for successful careers or further academic pursuits.
Occidental College is also renowned for its vibrant campus life, promoting a well-rounded education beyond the classroom. With over 120 student organizations and a variety of cultural, athletic, and social activities, there is something for everyone. The college's commitment to social justice is evident through its strong community engagement programs and emphasis on global citizenship. Additionally, Occidental's location in Los Angeles provides students with numerous opportunities for internships, research, and cultural exploration.
In conclusion, Occidental College stands out as a prestigious liberal arts institution that offers a rigorous and comprehensive education. With a focus on critical thinking, a supportive faculty, and a vibrant campus life, it provides students with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive academically and personally.
Located in Los Angeles, CA and set in an urban environment, Occidental College is a private four-year college. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 44%. The freshman retention rate at Occidental College is 89.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 81%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 10. Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Occidental College.
Quick Facts
1,881
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$65,678
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
81%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Here are the most essential information you need to know about admission at Occidental College.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,854 in 2025. Occidental College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student.
Test Scores
20% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 8% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 74% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 26% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 98 and 2 between 24-29.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 32 while the average GPA was 3.61. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 716 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 722.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is January 10.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Occidental College was 89.8%, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 81%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Occidental College in 2025 was 1,881.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 59. There was a total of 1,881 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 93 international students. The school reported to have a total of 43 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 769 male and 1,089 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 302, and the number of Black American students was 83. 331 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 184 as multirace. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 21 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Occidental College that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Occidental College estimated tuition fees.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $65,678 in 2025. Occidental College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $596 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,250.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Occidental College was $10,958 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 amounted to $8,294 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 65,678 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,958 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 77,886 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Occidental College.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 256 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $60,015.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
915 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Occidental College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 933. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $2,698,128, and state $1,655,674. The students of Occidental College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $43,160,638, and external in the amount of $2,185,582.
$15,544
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 636 students overall (including freshmen) at Occidental College in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 191 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $8,852,648. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $877,696 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Occidental College was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 271 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 133 men and 106 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information about campus life at Occidental College.
Its campus spans 120 acres.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? Occidental College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Occidental College provides a number of services important for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Occidental College.
All in all, campus life at Occidental College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Occidental College.
Career Counselling
At Occidental College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, CA.
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Occidental College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Occidental College is 65,678 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Occidental College is 44%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Occidental College is 89.8%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.