Occidental College

Occidental College Overview

Occidental College is a private, nonprofit school in the city of Los Angeles, California. Occidental College was founded in 1887 and enrolls 1,965 undergrads and no graduate students. Occidental College offers on-campus housing for students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.

📆 Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to Occidental College for Fall 2023 is January 10. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should find out if they have been admitted by March 25.

Student Involvement at Occidental College

Are you interested in music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Occidental College's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Occidental College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? Occidental College has both fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Occidental College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Occidental College on the Student Life page.

Is Occidental College a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Admissions difficulty, admitted student statistics, tuition, and financial aid can provide a sense of how selective a school is.

Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a better idea of what Occidental College offers and if the school might be a good choice for you.

Occidental College Acceptance Rate 2022

Occidental College is very difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at Occidental College is 38%. Last year, 6,495 students applied to Occidental College and 2,484 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Occidental College

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 92% of students who start at Occidental College return the next year. Around 83% of students who started at Occidental College earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Occidental College Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with Occidental College directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Occidental College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Occidental College's endowment was $575.8 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Occidental College

Tuition is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Occidental College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $48,038 a year.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2022 was around $30,233 per student, not including those with no debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Occidental College.

Based on this information, is Occidental College the school for you? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Occidental College a good school for you?

If Occidental College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Exploring Schools?

To learn more about Occidental College, choose from the options below:

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Where is Occidental College Located?

Occidental College is located in the city of Los Angeles, California, in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

If you want to see Occidental College for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take State Route 134 to Los Angeles, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Hollywood Burbank.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Occidental College and Los Angeles are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in California?

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