Founded in 1887, Occidental College fully integrates the liberal arts and sciences with the cultural and intellectual resources of one of the world's great cities. Situated on a 120-acre residential campus in Los Angeles' Eagle Rock community, our location serves as a springboard for putting theory into practice and ideas into action. Here, you can expect to spend as much time in the lab, in the field, in the community, and in the studio as you do in the classroom. Students benefit from our small-classroom environment with stimulating faculty, who take their teaching as seriously as their research. Our distinctive interdisciplinary approach will give you the chance to explore new ideas and see the world from a new perspective. With more than 40 majors and minors; exemplary, one-of-a-kind programs such as the Kahane United Nations Program and Campaign Semester; and our emphasis on research through the Undergraduate Research Center and senior comprehensives, Occidental provides its students with a compelling intellectual adventure. Academic rigor is enhanced by internships and community partnerships across Los Angeles. Students graduate from Occidental as strategic thinkers and effective communicators. Uncommonly inclusive and consciously collaborative, our students seek to embrace difference and make a difference in the world. Occidental is reinventing the liberal arts and sciences for a new generation of problem solvers, creators, and thinkers. It's an education that is distinctly Oxy.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
VP of Enrollment and Dean of Admission
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314
Experience College Life
Clapp Library
Samuelson Pavilion (The Cooler)
The Quad
Alumni Gymnasium Fitness Center
Taco Trucks
Downtown LA
Old Pasadena
Little Tokyo
Campus Tours
8am-5pm M-F and 9am-1pm Sat.
800-825-5262
Dates: Varies
Times: M-F 10:15a & 1:30p, Sat 9:30a & 11p
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
Occidental is committed to admitting and enrolling a highly qualified and diverse student body. To that end, the admission committee evaluates each applicant individually and holistically. Academic preparation is paramount, so we will closely examine your high school transcript, focusing on your performance and course rigor. We also give serious consideration to qualities such as motivation, intellectual curiosity, leadership ability, and distinctive talents. Your personal statement, short answer responses, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation offer us valuable insight into these areas.
Whether you are applying as a first-year or transfer student, the following materials must be submitted by the appropriate application deadline with a non-refundable application processing fee of $65 or a fee waiver:
- High school transcript
- Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)
- Extracurricular activities
- Personal statement
- Short answer responses
- Letters of recommendation
To learn more about the application process, visit oxy.edu/admission-aid/apply.
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Decision II — January 1
Regular — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
The foundation of our commitment to a liberal arts and science education is embodied in the Core Program, which is designed to spur students to think critically and creatively. The Core Program exposes students to a broad range of cultural, geographical and historical issues while developing their writing and research skills and encouraging interdisciplinary inquiry.
Research opportunities are possible for students in every discipline. For more than 15 years, we've offered a full-time Summer Research Program, an experience that often results in co-authored publications and positions students to win prestigious awards and gain entrance to graduate programs. As scholars equally committed to teaching and research, our professors open doors and champion student work. They drive an approach to the liberal arts at Oxy that encourages students to venture outside of their comfort zones. With a class size averaging 19 students, and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, students get to know their professors and their classmates, engage in critical discussion, and learn from and about one another.
Every Oxy student completes a Senior Comprehensive Project, a project reflecting Oxy's educational philosophy of learning deeply and independently. Comps take a variety of different forms: projects, fieldwork, theses, exams, presentations, or creative works. Each discipline defines its comps expectations differently, and they all challenge and inspire students in unexpected ways. Many of our students draw senior comps inspiration from their multicultural surroundings in Los Angeles as well as research and exploration abroad.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Occidental offers 35 majors across our departments, as well as countless opportunities for independent research and experiential learning.
Majors Offered:
American Studies
Art and Art History
Biochemistry
Biology
Black Studies
Chemistry
Chinese Studies
Classical Studies*
Cognitive Science
Comparative Studies in Literature & Culture
Computer Science
Critical Theory & Social Justice
Diplomacy & World Affairs
East Asian Studies
Economics
Education*
English
French
Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies*
Geology
German*
Group Language
History
Independent Pattern of Study
Interdisciplinary Writing*
Japanese Studies
Kinesiology
Latino/a and Latin American Studies
Linguistics*
Mathematics
Media Arts & Culture
Music
Neuroscience*
Philosophy
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Public Health*
Religious Studies
Russian*
Sociology
Spanish
Theater
Urban & Environmental Policy
* Minor only
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Latin American Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
Literature, Other.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Chinese Language and Literature.
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other.
French Language and Literature.
Japanese Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Music.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Cognitive Science.
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
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PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Geophysics and Seismology.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Economics, General.
International Relations and Affairs.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Students Say
Degrees
Master's
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Estimated cost of attendance for 2018-19:
Tuition: $54,090
Room & Board: $15,496
Required Fees: $596
Total: $70,182
Financial Aid
We extend financial aid through merit scholarships, need-based grants and scholarships, work-study and student loans to meet the various needs and circumstances of our students. Our aid programs often make Oxy's cost comparable to those of public institutions.
If you are interested in Oxy, we encourage you to apply for financial aid--regardless of your financial circumstances. The New York Times has consistently ranked Occidental as one of the country's most economically diverse colleges. The Financial Aid Office is committed to meeting the demonstrated need of every enrolled student.
Dates
Required Forms
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Students come to our residential campus from all over the world, each contributing their unique perspective to our ongoing conversation. Oxy students come from 48 states and 56 countries; international students make up 7% of the student body. From academic initiatives to a thriving network of student clubs and multicultural living communities, Oxy is a place for nuanced, sophisticated discussions about our differences, our similarities and where we can go from here.
About 20% participate in the Greek system, more than 25% are varsity NCAA Division III athletes, and hundreds more compete in year-round club and intramural sports.
Residence life is the heart of the student experience at Oxy. More than three-quarters of all students live on campus in one of 13 coed residence halls, including four reserved for first-year students.
Students consistently give Oxy's on-campus dining high marks. Not only is the food delicious, but Oxy's Dining Services is also environmentally friendly, taking part in the Real Food Challenge by providing local, organic food in the dining facilities.
Oxy students don't just take classes. They take charge and create new opportunities for innovation and learning. Oxy students thrive in their extracurricular pursuits, having founded and run over 100 clubs and organizations.
Dance Production, which features the work of student choreographers and dancers, is the largest student club on campus and sells out each of its three annual performances. For the vocally inclined, Glee Club has been a central part of the Oxy community since 1906. With L.A. being the home to a large portion of world media, it's no surprise that our students show interest in these areas. The campus TV station, CatAList TV, leapt onto the campus scene a few years ago, while KOXY radio and the Occidental Weekly have much longer histories. (Weekly alumni include two Pultizer Prize-winning journalists.)
As the hub for the arts at Occidental, Oxy Arts promotes a socially-conscious, interdisciplinary conversation about contemporary arts practices on campus and in the community. Oxy Arts also serves as a comprehensive source of information for arts events and cultural happenings, including music, theater, film, the visual arts, literature, and art history.
Oxy students are running small businesses and departments on campus every day. From the student-run Green Bean Coffee Lounge to Oxy Design Service and the Bengal Bus shuttle service, student initiatives provide essential services and job opportunities that have led to post-graduation jobs.
Reaching out and supporting other areas of L.A. is important to Oxy students. From tutoring and mentoring to preparing meals for those in need, Oxy has a rich tradition of students partnering with the local community.
Sustainability is a passion for many Oxy students, and food plays a big part in that. That's why the Oxy campus has a student-run organic garden and a student-managed bike-sharing and repairing program. The student government Renewable Energy & Sustainability Fund supports student sustainability projects that make Oxy a better place to study and live.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Located in Los Angeles' Eagle Rock community, Occidental's 120-acre campus is studded with mature oak trees and eucalyptus. The beauty of our campus and its red tile-roofed, Beaux Arts-style buildings has made it a mecca for filmmakers since 1919. State-of-the-art science facilities and our uniquely designed solar array share the campus with historic residence halls and classroom buildings. The atmosphere is, in a word, idyllic--students from all over the world visit and never want to leave. Somehow the L.A. traffic seems miles away, though the city is just outside our door--and is an integral part of an interdisciplinary, multicultural Occidental education. Our location allows Occidental to offer students the best of both worlds--the intimacy of a close-knit campus located in a residential community and access to the educational, cultural and recreational resources of Los Angeles and Southern California. Our location provides students a wide range of opportunities, from internships at the Grammy Museum and the L.A. Zoo to community involvement in programs addressing the environment, housing, nutrition, and urban development. Faculty and students routinely use the city as a resource for field study and research, whether it involves an evening poetry reading or a semester diving off the Pacific coast and studying marine biology.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The European-style 400-seat Keck Theater and attached shop is the main venue for Theater Department productions. (All stage sets and costumes are produced in-house.) Art students have access to multiple studio spaces, including printmaking, printing and sculpture studios, and three galleries.
In addition to standard science labs, Oxy has a superconducting magnet, a world-class paleomagnetic laboratory, a complete geochemical/environmental lab with an inductively-coupled plasma spectrometer, and a fission track lab.
Occidental's internationally known natural history collections, including the Moore Bird Collection and the Cosman Shell Collection, provide cutting-edge opportunities for genomic research.
Special Collections in the Library is home to one of the world's leading collections of material relating to the poet Robinson Jeffers (Oxy Class of 1905), a World War II Japanese-American relocation archive, and the 16,000-volume Guymon collection of mysteries and detective fiction.
Los Angeles weather allows for year-round use of outdoor athletic facilities, including Kemp Stadium, a practice venue for the 1984 Olympics. The new 25-yard by 34-meter Townsend-Crosthwaite Pool is now under construction.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Whether you hail from five miles away or 5,000, Oxy will challenge you to explore your academic interests in contexts beyond the classroom and Los Angeles. Three-quarters of our students pursue Oxy's multiple routes to global citizenship: traditional study abroad, and research, internships, and fellowships on six continents.
Oxy offers the country's only residential undergraduate United Nations program. Students of all disciplines can spend a semester in New York City, taking classes and working as interns at UN-related organizations. Every two years, students get the chance to participate in Campaign Semester, spending the term working on key elections all while earning course credit.
InternLA is a unique summer internship program that funds more than 35 students to intern in Los Angeles based organizations and companies in six broad sectors: business, policy, media, research, advocacy, and the arts. Students intern full-time for 10 weeks over the summer while also enrolling in a weekly on-campus educational component.
Occidental has a strong history of producing winners of national fellowships and scholarships, a reflection of our rigorous undergraduate preparation. These highly sought after and extremely competitive awards give Oxy students opportunities to pursue advanced study and research at home and abroad.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Dorms Female
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Documentation Required for LD
Psycho-educational evaluation/assessmentDocumentation Required for ADHD
Psycho-educational evaluation/assessmentSpecial Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Water Polo
Cross Country
Diving
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Water Polo
Student Services
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: USC
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: UCLA
Sustainability
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/