Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private · Large city · Oxy

Private institution in Los Angeles, CA · 1,844 undergraduates · 40% acceptance rate · $75,951 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 6%Average SAT
Top 6%Median ACT
Top 7%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 10%Median earnings, 10 years after entry

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $39,3291,908th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $63,4461,977th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $63,4461,977th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $80,6361,921st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $23,000997th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $75,951191st highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $52,209446th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 85.1%139th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 87.2%344th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 39.9%172nd most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 146163rd highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 3258th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 1,844987th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 9.0:1304th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 16.0%1,898th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 17 mi (LAX)

On 2 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 15
ED IIJan 10
RDJan 10

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 31 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$55,964	$55,078
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNatural Resources	bachelors	$45,305	$37,208
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$44,384	$57,318
Cognitive ScienceMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$41,007	—
International Relations and National Security StudiesSocial Sciences	bachelors	$39,555	$36,132
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$38,289	$41,565
Fine and Studio ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$33,993	$25,967
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBiological Sciences	bachelors	$32,569	—
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and AnalysisMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$29,685	—
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$27,669	$30,047
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$26,353	—
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$24,421	$26,933

Campus facts

Founded in 1887source
Athletic nickname: "Tigers"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
Motto: "Occidens Proximus Orienti (Latin)"source
Plays for the "The Drum{{cite web|url=https://www.oxyathletics.com/aboutathletics/TheDrum|title=Battle for the Drum|publisher=Occidental|access-date=November 16, 2019|archive-date=November 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116134447/https://www.oxyathletics.com/aboutathletics/TheDrum|url-status=dead}}"source
Plays for the "Myron Claxton's Shoes" (since 1901)source
Fight song: ""Io Triumphe""source
Notable alum: Barack Obamasource
Notable alum: Ben Afflecksource
Notable alum: Terry Gilliamsource
Notable alum: Emily Osmentsource
Notable alum: Eleanor F. Helinsource

Athletics — 11 sports

NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.