Quad

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forTop test scoresPell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Occidental admits about 1 in 2 applicants (44%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 87% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

44%

44%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

6,461

Admitted

2,854

Yield

18%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.70

SAT middle 50%

1380–1520

10001600
ACT middle 50%

31–34

1836
Applications +6% since fall 2014 · admit rate 42% → 44%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,877 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

1.9K

undergrads · larger than 55% of colleges

Diversity index

0.72

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

18%

below the median

Large cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-III · Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.69 → 0.72 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (12% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 75% of faculty are full-time. Spends $24,676 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

12% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Economics

$103.2K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

75%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$24.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $57,431 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $33.1K more than the national median. The 75% who received grants paid $48,400 on average; the other 25% paid the full sticker price of $84,800.

32%

$57.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $33.1K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$84,800 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

37%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +3% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $75,951 ten years after enrolling, more than at 88% of colleges; 83% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 3.0 years of that salary.

83%

83%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$76K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23K

≈ $244/month for 10 years

Retention

90%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 85% → 81% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 2% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 6% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 42% to 44%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +3% after inflation

  • Applications

    Steady

    +6%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 42% → 44%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.69 → 0.72

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Grinnell College

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Carleton College

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24

    Occidental College · Fall 2023; 2022–23; Fall 2024 entrants; 2023–24; Fall 2024 cycle; 2024–25; Class of 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Occidental College (2026)

    Occidental College · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 120254 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything