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#9 Best Private Colleges in California

Occidental College

Los Angeles, California

 2 Reviews

Overview

Enrollment

1,942
Occidental College overview
Location Los Angeles, California
Online oxy.edu
School Type Private 4 Year
Setting Large City
Occidental College overview
Size Small
Status Non-profit
On Campus Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
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Occidental College, a private liberal arts institution founded in 1887, is located in Los Angeles, California, offering students a suburban college setting within close proximity to the urban amenities of a major city. Known for its rigorous academic profile, Occidental provides a diverse range of majors, with a particular emphasis on the social sciences, followed by biological and biomedical sciences and visual and performing arts. The campus features a distinctive blend of Mediterranean Revival architecture and houses approximately two-thirds of the student body in residential complexes, fostering an inclusive on-campus living experience. Occidental's admission process is highly selective, seeking students who demonstrate a strong academic foundation and individual initiative. While the college does not specifically focus on athletics for its national reputation, it does offer a variety of sports programs and competes as the Tigers within the NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

In the most recent statistical year 6,305 prospective students applied, and 2,484 were granted admission.  Of those admitted 531 enrolled in the school.  1,913 students are enrolled on a full time basis, and 29 attend part time. In-state tuition for 2022/2023, excluding room and board, is $59,970 plus fees of $596. Oxy is ranked 72 nationally in the CollegeSimply.com 2024 U.S. Colleges Ranking.

Ratings

9/10

Overall

10/10

Academics

10/10

Resources

8/10

Outcomes

7/10

Value

Oxy is rated within the top 17% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 9 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Occidental College within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.

Getting In

Admission Standards

Elite
Occidental College overview
SAT 1370/1510
ACT 31/34
GPA 3.63

Applications Accepted

39.4% 
Occidental College overview
Applications Due Jan 10, 2025
Applicant Competition High
Application Fee $70

Explore admissions requirements

Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$59,970
Costs for Occidental College
Fee Cost
Books and Supplies$1,240
Other Fees$596
Room and Board $17,330
Budget for Other Expenses$1,500
Total One Year Cost$80,636

Tuition and financial aid details

Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$56,600 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

83% within 6 years

Explore Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular subjects studied by Occidental College students
Subject Percent of Class
Social Sciences 32%
Visual and Performing Arts 10%
Psychology 9%
Biology 7%
Foreign Languages 6%

View All 31 Majors

Other Colleges to Consider 

Students considering Oxy are frequently interested in these similar colleges.

Questions and Answers

CollegeSimply Advisor posts about Occidental College.

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=120254 IPEDS survey data for Occidental College.

Current students may use the Occidental College GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.

Last updated February 24, 2024