Skip to content
College Path Hub

Occidental College

Los Angeles, California · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

Compare this college

Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$38,263What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
44%
Graduation rate
83%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,877
In-state tuition
$66,274Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$66,274
SAT midpoint
1,415
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$75,951Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$38,263

Better than 7% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

83%

Better than 90% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$75,951

Better than 87% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,000

Better than 65% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$84,800

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$38,263

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Occidental College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time83%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return90%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$75,951

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Occidental College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Economics$64,88573
Computer Science$63,84531
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$49,52923
Political Science and Government$45,17518
Sociology$42,65316
International Relations and National Security Studies$35,23150
Psychology, General$31,002Not reported
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$30,52621
Biology, General$28,69138
English Language and Literature, General$23,60511
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported54
Cognitive ScienceNot reported24
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported24
MathematicsNot reported17
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported17
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported16
MusicNot reported15
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and AnalysisNot reported15
ChemistryNot reported12
PhilosophyNot reported10
PhysicsNot reported9
HistoryNot reported9
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported9
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported7
Area StudiesNot reported7
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported5
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported4
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported3
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported2
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralNot reported1

All 31 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

Similar colleges