Occidental College

Private · Selective · CA

Photo: The Port of Authority (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationCA · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,877

Student:faculty9:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate67.8%

6-yr grad rate80.9%

Drop-out rate10.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$66k

Out-of-state tuition$66k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity54.4%

Gender diversity58.7%

International5%

Identity—

Overview

Occidental College sits in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, giving it a residential-college feel with a major city's resources close at hand. Founded in 1887 and known today for its Myron Hunt–designed Spanish revival campus, it is best known for diplomacy and world affairs, anchored by a distinctive program that places students directly at the United Nations, and it counts Barack Obama, who spent two years there before transferring, among its notable attendees.

Academics

Beyond international relations, Oxy is strong in economics, media arts, and the sciences, and its Core Program threads writing and interdisciplinary thinking through the first year or two of study rather than confining it to a single requirement. Class sizes stay small and discussion-driven across departments, closer to a seminar model than a lecture-hall one, and the UN program gives international-relations majors a genuine Manhattan semester most peer liberal arts colleges can't offer.

Campus & student life

The campus reads as a classic small liberal arts quad dropped into a major metropolis, so students get both a tight-knit residential community and easy access to Los Angeles's internships, entertainment industry, and cultural life. The Spanish revival architecture and hillside setting give it a distinct visual identity from the flatter, more urban campuses nearby.

Getting in

Applications are read holistically with attention to intellectual engagement and fit with the Core Program's interdisciplinary approach; essays carry real weight given the school's small, seminar-heavy classes. Demonstrated interest in Los Angeles as a place to learn, not just a place to live, tends to come through in stronger applications.

After graduation

Graduates move heavily into government, international affairs, media, and entertainment-adjacent careers, helped by the UN program's direct pipeline and the school's Los Angeles location. The alumni network is especially useful for students chasing entertainment-industry or policy-world internships during the school year rather than waiting for a summer break.

Worth knowing

The UN placement program is a genuine differentiator few peer liberal arts colleges can match, and the Los Angeles location means internship access during the school year is far easier than at a more rural liberal arts campus. Students who want total escape from a big city during college should weigh that trade-off carefully, since Oxy's identity is partly built on being embedded in one.

oxy.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate44.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1380–1520 · ACT 31–34

Test policyoptional

Rec letters2

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early decisionNov 1

Regular decisionJan 10

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App or Coalition (Scoir).

Early decision IIJan 10

Financial aid formsJan 10

Early Decision I and II are binding commitments to enroll if admitted and come with a guaranteed minimum scholarship, while Early Action and Regular Decision are non-binding and let you compare offers.

Interviews: Interviews are optional and can be requested directly through Occidental.

Supplemental essays (1)

Why Oxy?
Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests?
250 words · Optional · Optional short answer, submitted through the Common App or Coalition on Scoir supplement.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗