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
Contact
Vince Cuseo
VP of Enrollment and Dean of Admission
VP of Enrollment and Dean of Admission
Address
Admission Office
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314
Phone
800-825-5262
Email
admission@oxy.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
Green Bean Coffee Lounge
Clapp Library
Samuelson Pavilion (The Cooler)
The Quad
Alumni Gymnasium Fitness Center
Clapp Library
Samuelson Pavilion (The Cooler)
The Quad
Alumni Gymnasium Fitness Center
Most Popular Places Off Campus
York Boulevard/Colorado Blvd.
Taco Trucks
Downtown LA
Old Pasadena
Little Tokyo
Taco Trucks
Downtown LA
Old Pasadena
Little Tokyo
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Mon-Fri, Sat 9/1-12/7, month of April
8am-5pm M-F and 9am-1pm Sat.
800-825-5262
8am-5pm M-F and 9am-1pm Sat.
800-825-5262
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Varies
Times: M-F 10:15a & 1:30p, Sat 9:30a & 11p
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Varies
Times: M-F 10:15a & 1:30p, Sat 9:30a & 11p
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
Immediately following campus tour
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department
Advance Notice
2 weeks
Contact Email Address for Visit
http://oxyathletics.com/Recruiting/Recruit_Home
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
Mon-Thurs, but not during exam periods
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Burbank Airport is 10 miles from campus. Super Shuttle and taxi service is available from the airport to campus. Los Angeles International Airport is farther from campus, but close enough that buses run from the airport to hotels in the Pasadena area not too far from campus. Amtrak trains and Greyhound/Trailways buses serve Los Angeles. Rapid Transit District bus service (public transportation) to campus is available from downtown L.A.: take either line 83 (on York Blvd.) or line 84 (on Eagle Rock Blvd.). Call 213-626-4455 for bus information and schedules.
Driving Instructions to Campus
From downtown L.A., take I-110 N. (Harbor Freeway). Follow signs for Pasadena. Take I-5 N. (Golden State Freeway) toward Bakersfield. Then take Rte. 2 (Glendale Freeway) going toward Glendale. Exit at Verdugo Rd.; turn left at the end of the off ramp onto Eagle Rock Blvd. Continue on Eagle Rock Blvd. for 5 traffic lights to Westdale Ave. Turn right onto Westdale and follow it until it ends at Campus Rd. From the Ventura Freeway (Rte. 134) heading east, go through Glendale to the Harvey Dr. exit. Turn right at the end of the off ramp and then left at the light onto Broadway. When Broadway merges with Colorado Blvd., continue on Colorado Blvd. to Eagle Rock Blvd. Turn right and continue for 4 traffic lights to Westdale Ave. Turn left onto Westdale and follow it to Campus Rd. From the Ventura Freeway (Rte. 134) heading west, exit at Colorado Blvd. Take Colorado Blvd. to Eagle Rock Blvd. (approximately one mile). Turn left onto Eagle Rock Blvd. and continue 4 traffic lights to Westdale Ave. Turn left onto Westdale and proceed to Campus Rd.
Local Accommodations
In the moderate range, about 15 minutes away, is Sheraton Pasadena (303 East Cordova Street, 626-449-4000. Ask for Occidental College's special rate). This property has a pool and exercise room. Also available, Westin Hotel (191 North Los Robles, Pasadena, 626-792-2727). This hotel has a full health club, exercise room, pool and jacuzzi. The least expensive place we suggest is also the closest to campus: Welcome Inn (1840 West Colorado Blvd., 323-256-1673). The California Institute of Technology entry also has suggestions for accommodations in Pasadena.
Save SchoolAdmissions
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
Applicants: 7,281
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average HS GPA: 3.65
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
640 - 710
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
630 - 740
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
28 - 32
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
Standardized testing policy for use in admission
Requires applicants to submit either the SAT or ACT
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Decision II — January 1
Regular — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Academic
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
Student/Faculty
9.54:1
Total Faculty
254
with Terminal Degree
228
130
Men
124
Women
72
Minority
7
International
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
10 - 19
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
81%
Graduate in 5 years
85%
Graduate in 6 years
86%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Latin American Studies.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
Literature, Other.
-
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.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Music.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
-
MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Cognitive Science.
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis.
-
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
-
PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Geophysics and Seismology.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Economics, General.
International Relations and Affairs.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Students Say
An “intellectual, accepting, beautiful” liberal arts college in northeast Los Angeles, Occidental is “perfect for hard-working and involved students who not only want to be challenged academically, but also want to be pushed to learn more about the world around them.” At this small school, classes are “intellectually stimulating,” spearheaded by professors who “encourage critical analysis, ask interesting questions, and allow students to create informed opinions about the subject.” The faculty and staff “really encourage students to take a proactive role in their education,” giving them the freedom to “experiment with a wide range of courses.” A current undergrad enthuses, “I love the interdisciplinary aspect of academics. I can really tailor my coursework to what I am interested in.” In the classroom, Oxy professors “find ways to connect the lectures to the real world,” and many are “very willing to have students help them with their research,” providing valuable hands-on experience to undergraduates. Students further augment their coursework through numerous extracurricular and off-campus opportunities, including study abroad, academic conferences, and the school’s popular “UN internship program.” “Courses are challenging,” but Oxy “professors want to see you succeed,” and the favorably low student-to-faculty ratio means “there are plenty of opportunities to get extra help on the tough material.” In fact, most professors “go the extra mile to make themselves available” and “are invested in cultivating real relationships with students.”
Degrees
Bachelor's
Master's
Master's
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Andrea Elliott '96
Pultizer-winning NY Times reporter
Terry Gilliam '62
Film director and producer
Jacqueline Nguyen '87
Judge, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Barack Obama '83
Former U.S. President
Joanna Hall Gleason '72
Tony Award-winning actress
Robinson Jeffers 1905
Poet
Dr. Sammy Lee '43
Two-time Olympic gold medalist, diving
Academic Rating
89/99
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
81%
Graduate in 5 years
85%
Graduate in 6 years
86%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Information from PayScale:
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$54,100
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$111,100
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$55,400
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$113,900
Percent High Job Meaning
47%
Percent STEM
25%
Students Say
Overall, “Occidental does a great job of providing its students with excellent resources and opportunities.” And this certainly extends to career services. Indeed, as one happy junior succinctly states, the “career development support is fantastic.” Undergrads really appreciate the fact that Oxy runs a robust internship program, one in which they can earn course credit. Students also have the unique opportunity to participate in job shadowing. More specifically, the “Walk in My Shoes (WIMS)” program matches undergrads with alumni and professionals from the surrounding area. They can experience a day-in-the-life of all types of jobs—from marine biology and green business to jobs within the fine arts. Ultimately, WIMS provides students with invaluable insight into potential career tracks. Lastly, according to PayScale.com, the median starting salary for recent Oxy graduates is $51,800.
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
Application Deadlines
Jan 15
Notification Date
Mar 25
Required Forms
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$41,521
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$40,877
Average Need-Based Loan
$5,856
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
55%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$32,055
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$35,621
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
$54,090
Required Fees
$596
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,220
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
Transportation for Commuters
$1,030
On-Campus Room and Board
$15,496
Comprehensive Fee
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal and Institutional
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
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
Non-Need-Based
Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
College/university loans from institutional funds
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Financial Aid Rating
97/99
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
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
2,036
Foreign Countries Represented
58
Demographics
14.88%
Asian
5.16%
Black
14.34%
Hispanic
49.65%
Caucasian
1.34%
Unknown
6.05%
International
58% female
42% male
52% are out of state
99% are full time
1% are part time
Students Say
Oxy students are “well rounded,” “socially and politically conscious,” and “excited to be at Occidental.” Though they take academics seriously, “people at Oxy are concerned with much, much more than their education. They are focused on academically succeeding, sure, but they are also concerned with social issues, identity, meeting new people, having fun, and gathering a variety of other skills to help them succeed in life outside of Oxy.” Many note the “overwhelmingly left-wing atmosphere” on campus, admitting that the people and their viewpoints can feel a little “homogeneous” at times. However, “every student at Oxy treats all persons equally, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious views,” and most are readily “accepting of different opinions.” With such a tiny enrollment, it’s easy to find “a good niche of close friends at Oxy,” and “if you’re involved on campus, expect your friend group to continually grow.” Despite the rigors of the academic program, “there is a communal desire to help each other succeed.”
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
Undergrads living on campus
81%
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
90/99
First-Year Students living on campus
100%
Campus Environment
Large Urban
75/99
Housing Options
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Dorms Female
Frat Sorority
Other
Theme Housing
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
“People are really passionate about their extracurricular activities and internships” at Occidental, where most students are “busy from dawn to dusk, and loving it.” Clubs and intramural sports, “from quidditch to women’s rugby,” are popular across campus, and “Greek life is getting bigger and bigger every year.” On campus, “there are frequently guest speakers, dialogues, and workshops,” and on the weekends, the school organizes “dances, trivia nights, movie screenings, fashion shows, concerts, food tastings, beer gardens, and many other events.” When it comes to parties, the alcohol policy is “strict” (even students of legal age are “forbidden from drinking in their dorms”), so most campus get-togethers are small and subdued. Off campus, “house parties are a huge source of fun on the weekends,” as are “music shows, bars, and clubs” in surrounding L.A. When they don’t have anything planned, students “listen to and make music, watch movies, have impromptu dance parties, and do wacky things.” You can’t beat having the “intimacy of a small college with Los Angeles as your backyard,” and students love the fact that Oxy is “not isolated from the surrounding community like many other college campuses.” In their free time, many take advantage of the Southern California setting to “go to the beach, go shopping in L.A., go out to eat in Eagle Rock, [and] go hiking.” “Having a car definitely helps” if you want to explore the surrounding city, though “the school has a ‘Bengal Bus’ system that provides free rides to areas close to campus.”
Special Needs Admissions
Program / Service Name
Disability Services
Type of Program
For all students with disabilities
Director
Luci Masredjian
College Entrance Tests Required
Yes
Interview Required
No
Documentation Required for LD
Psycho-educational evaluation/assessmentDocumentation Required for ADHD
Psycho-educational evaluation/assessmentSpecial Need Services Offered
Calculator allowed in exams
Yes
Dictionary allowed in exams
Yes
Computer allowed in exams
Yes
Spellchecker allowed in exams
Yes
Extended test time
Yes
Scribes
Yes
Proctors
Yes
Oral exams
Yes
Notetakers
Yes
Distraction-free environment
Yes
Accommodation for students with ADHD
Yes
Reading machine
Yes
Other assistive technology
Yes
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
103
Number of Honor Societies
8
Number of Social Sororities
4
Number of Religious Organizations
6
13% join a fraternity
19% join a sorority
Sports
Athletic Division
Division III
5% participate in intramural sports
20% participate in intercollegiate sports
Men's Sports (Tigers)
11 Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Water Polo
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Water Polo
Women's Sports (Tigers)
12 Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross Country
Diving
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Water Polo
Student Services
Health
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: USC
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: UCLA
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: USC
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: UCLA
Sustainability
Occidental College takes advantage of its sunny Los Angeles location and utilizes a solar array that provides for 11 percent of the campus’s needs, one of the largest of its kind in the area. In addition to the cutting edge research from the school’s physics department, the art department also collaborated to create a unique curving design based on a mathematical expression. In the dining hall, students compost their food waste following meals. To cut down on plastic water bottles, Campus Dining and several other departments teamed up to provide students with reusable water canteens; this cut the sale of plastic bottles by 26 percent. Not all the environmentally friendly initiatives are as visible but they’re just as important: the college now installs low-flow toilets, motion-sensor lights, and requires that all new construction and renovation projects meet LEED Silver certification standards. Since 1997, when Oxy’s Urban & Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI) helped launch one of the country’s first farm-to-school programs, the college has been dedicated to helping local communities by supporting small farms. Food in the dining hall is often locally grown (and the utensils are compostable). Student clubs like Food, Energy and Sustainability Team (FEAST), which grows food and raises poultry on campus, and Well Fed, which brings students and faculty together over small, locally sourced meals, offer Oxy students opportunities to help make an impact on the environment on an everyday basis. And while Los Angeles is known for its car traffic, Oxy students are encouraged to ride bikes and have them serviced at the student-run Bike Cage.
78/99
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
No
% food budget spent on local/organic food
26%
Available Transportation Alternatives
Bike Share
Yes
Car Sharing Program
Yes
Carpool/Vanpool Matching Program
No
Condensed Work Week Option For Employees
Yes
Free Or Reduced Price Transit Passes And/Or Free Campus Shuttle
Yes
Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus
Yes
Indoor And Secure Bike Storage, Shower Facilities, And Lockers For Bicycle Commuters
No
Reduced Parking Fees For Car And Van Poolers
No
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
No
School Developed Bicycle Plan
No
School Offers A Telecommute Program For Employees
Yes
Campus Security Report
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/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
No
Partnerships with Technology Companies
No
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
IBM, Dell, Apple, Gateway
