Occidental College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Los Angeles, California. It enrolls 1,877 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value20
Affordability8
Selectivity90
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 44.2%, Occidental College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
44.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1380 – 1520
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Occidental College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Occidental College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $38,263 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$38,263
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
37%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$66,274
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,252
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,880
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,800
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,705
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,655
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,468
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,033
Over $110,000
$54,959
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,97525%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$32,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $4,000
No Pell $19,000
↓ $4,000
Female students $19,305
↓ $3,695
Male students $17,250
↓ $5,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,080, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
86% of full-time students who enrolled at Occidental College graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
86%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Occidental College earn a median of $75,951 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$75,951
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$64,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$65,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,100, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Occidental College is home to 1,877 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,877
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 45.6%856
Hispanic 17.6%331
Asian 16.1%302
Other 10.2%191
International 5.0%93
Black 4.4%83
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Occidental College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityLos Angeles, California
Housing
Strongly residential1,650 beds for 1,877 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Occidental College offers
a varied set of programs:
30 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Occidental College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$800M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$108,139
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
198 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
63
32%
$146,066
Associate Professors
39
20%
$113,028
Assistant Professors
41
21%
$89,735
No Rank
55
28%
$74,948
Pros & Cons of Occidental College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Occidental College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Occidental College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Occidental College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Occidental College.
Is Occidental College hard to get into?
Occidental College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 44.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Occidental College?
Occidental College has an acceptance rate of 44.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Occidental College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Occidental College scored between 1380 and 1520 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Occidental College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Occidental College scored between 31 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Occidental College cost?
The average net price after aid at Occidental College is $38,263 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Occidental College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $75,951 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $38,263 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Occidental College known for?
Occidental College is best known for its programs in Economics, Experimental Psychology, International Relations. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Occidental College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Occidental College are $75,951, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Occidental College accredited?
Yes. Occidental College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Occidental College?
Occidental College enrolls 1,877 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Occidental College?
Occidental College graduates 86% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Occidental College a public or private college?
Occidental College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Occidental College located?
Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, California.
What programs does Occidental College offer?
Occidental College offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Experimental Psychology, International Relations.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Occidental College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Occidental College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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