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Occidental College
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 comprehensive higher education institution. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 39%. The freshman retention rate at Occidental College is 87.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 85%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 10. The transfer application deadline is March 1.
Read more about what Occidental College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,854
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
39%
Acceptance Rate
$65,678
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
85%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Here are the most important facts you should know about admission at Occidental College.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,622 in 2024. Occidental College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Occidental College offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 23% and ACT scores 13%. 62% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 38% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 96 and 4 between 24-29.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.7. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is January 10. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
39%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Occidental College was 87.2% in 2024, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 85%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution had an enrollment of 1,854 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 68. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,854, 76 of which were international students. 41 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 753 male and 1,073 female full-time students in 2024.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 245 Asian students and 76 Afro-American students in 2024. 322 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 208 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 28 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is 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.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $65,678 in 2024. 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 came to a total of $596 in 2024.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At Occidental College, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $19,252. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $10,958 for the 2024 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 65,678 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,252 |
| Total Expense | $ 84,930 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial help available to students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Occidental College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 266 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $52,808 in financial help.
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.
There were 987 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 was estimated to be 996. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $2,008,698, and state $1,527,606. The students of Occidental College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $40,350,982, and external in the amount of $1,683,413.
$14,149
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
609 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 188 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $6,648,617. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,200,786 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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)
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Fall Transfer Admission
Fall Transfer Admission
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-03-01
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. The faculty of this school consists of 277 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 138 men and 139 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Occidental College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Occidental College: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Occidental College.
Its campus spans 120 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 100 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Occidental College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Occidental College provides a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Occidental College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
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 data indicate that the acceptance rate for Occidental College is 39%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Occidental College is 87.2%.
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.