Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$70 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 41%, women at 47%.
Yield
18% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 1,534 offered a place, 841 accepted, 60 admitted (7.1% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 52% admitted
230 of 441 early applicants
Apply by Nov 15
Second round: apply by Jan 10
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding)
Where you stand
How Occidental reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 20% of first-years sent an SAT and 8% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 23% whose high school reported a rank, 52% were in the top tenth. Requires 4 years of English and 4 of math. See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Considered
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Considered
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
38% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 44% of first-year applicants
350 applied · 133 admitted · 41 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 32 credit hours completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 3.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 1
- Spring entry: priority date November 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 10 for fall 2024.
- Decisions are sent by March 25.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 academic year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Total | 8* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2023 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.70
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
This college publishes an average but not a breakdown.
52% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 86% in the top quarter, of the 23% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1450 on the SAT, 280 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;Occidental College Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)