Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Los Angeles, California
39.9% Acceptance Rate
Occidental College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
39.9%Acceptance Rate
3.63Avg GPA
1461Avg SAT
33Avg ACT
$80,636Annual Cost
$75,951Grad Salary
16%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
39.9%
Avg GPA
3.63
Avg SAT
1461
Avg ACT
33
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1360–1500
ACT Middle 50%
31–34
Need-Based Aid
16% receive Pell
Occidental College, established in 1887 in Los Angeles, is a highly selective liberal arts college known for its urban location and commitment to equity. Occidental's 120-acre campus in Eagle Rock features Mediterranean-style architecture and state-of-the-art facilities like the Moore Laboratory of Zoology. The college's interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes global engagement, with signature programs in diplomacy and world affairs, urban environmental policy, and critical theory. With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, Occidental fosters close mentorship, with 60% of students conducting research with faculty. The college's location provides access to internships at major cultural institutions and corporations across L.A. Notable alumni include President Barack Obama, whose time at Occidental helped shape his worldview. Recent initiatives include the $200 million Oxy Campaign for Good, expanding access and strengthening academic programs.
Occidental College Acceptance Rate
Occidental College admits roughly 39.9% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What Occidental College Admissions Looks For
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 39.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.63 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.43 – 3.62
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.18
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Occidental College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Occidental College is November 1 for Early Decision I (binding) applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 98 days left — Early Decision I (binding)
Early Decision I (binding)
November 1
Early Action (non-binding)
November 1
Regular Decision
January 10
Early Decision II (binding)
January 10
💡 The scholarship deadline (2026/01/10 (same as application deadline for need-based aid)) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Occidental College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Occidental College is 3.63. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.33 and 3.63? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.83–4.03.Occidental College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.63 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.43 – 3.62
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.23 – 3.42
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.22
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Occidental holds WASC Senior College and University Commission accreditation, supporting eligibility for federal financial aid and graduate school recognition - a practical detail worth confirming for international or transfer-minded applicants.
- Roughly 7% of Occidental's student body is international, and international applicants must submit TOEFL scores along with secondary school records and an application essay as part of a distinct review track.
- Admitted students average a 1415 SAT and 32 ACT, placing them in roughly the top 5th percentile nationally - strong academic credentials remain a real baseline even though the supplemental essay carries outsized importance.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Occidental College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Occidental College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Occidental College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Occidental College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Occidental College Without SAT or ACT?
Occidental College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Occidental College Average SAT Score: 1461
The average SAT score of admitted students at Occidental College is 1461 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1461 — Very Competitive
A 1461 average puts Occidental College well above the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1500 SAT or 34 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Occidental College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1360, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Occidental College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 710 | 670 | 750 |
| SAT Reading | 720 | 690 | 750 |
| SAT Composite | 1461 | 1360 | 1500 |
Below 1360, you're behind most admitted students; at 1500 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1450
Can I get into Occidental College with a 1500 SAT?
A 1500 SAT puts you ahead of most of Occidental College's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Occidental College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Occidental College is 33.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 33 — Very Competitive
An average of 33 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 31 | 28 | 33 |
| ACT English | 34 | 32 | 35 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 31 | 34 |
Can I get into Occidental College with a 34 ACT?
A 34 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Occidental College's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Occidental College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Occidental College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at Occidental College means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Write the "Optional" Essay Anyway - Treat It as Required
Occidental's single supplemental essay is technically optional, but for a small, competitive liberal arts school, skipping it removes your best opportunity to demonstrate specific fit. Use it to name actual Oxy programs and explain why they matter to your goals - this is a classic "why us" prompt that rewards specificity about the school's nearly 4,000 alternatives, not generic praise.
Connect Your Essay to a Named LA-Specific Program
Occidental's location in Los Angeles isn't incidental - it's structurally embedded in offerings like the Campaign Semester, where students work full-time on real political campaigns for academic credit, or direct access to LA's entertainment and creative industries for Media Arts & Culture students. Reference a specific program by name and connect it to a concrete goal, rather than describing LA generically as "exciting" or "diverse."
Consider Early Decision for the Guaranteed Commitment Scholarship
Occidental offers a minimum $15,000 annual scholarship to every admitted Early Decision first-year applicant through the Occidental Commitment Scholarship - a meaningful, guaranteed financial incentive distinct from competitive merit aid elsewhere. If Oxy is genuinely your first choice, ED carries real financial upside beyond the typical admissions-rate boost.
Show Both Fit and Contribution, Not Just Fit
Oxy's own essay guidance frames the ideal response as answering two questions at once: why Oxy fits you, and why you're a good fit for Oxy's specific community. Don't stop at describing what you want from the school - name how you'd actively contribute to campus life, a research lab, or a specific student organization.
Expert Insight: Do not submit a vague or templated response to the "optional" essay assuming it won't be weighed - for a moderately selective school where admitted students average a 1415 SAT, the essay is one of the few remaining differentiators among academically similar applicants, and skipping it removes a meaningful opportunity rather than a neutral one.
Occidental College Profile
Full Name
Occidental College
City
Los Angeles
State
California
ZIP Code
90041-3392
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a Occidental College Degree Worth It?
Whether Occidental College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $75,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.56%.
How much does a degree from Occidental College Cost?
The sticker price is $80,636/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
16% of students receive a Pell Grant and 38.8% take federal loans at Occidental College — file your FAFSA early and list Occidental College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Occidental College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $75,951 — about 87% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Occidental College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO | 1445 | 33 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 1433 | 33 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 1416 | 32 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | Atlanta, GA | 1447 | 31 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 1418 | 32 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | 1443 | 32 |
| Bates College | Lewiston, ME | 1446 | 32 |
| Babson College | Wellesley, MA | 1435 | 32 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Occidental College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland-College Park | College Park, MD | 1463 | 34 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 1454 | 32 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC | 1469 | 33 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 1466 | 33 |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg, VA | 1458 | 33 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Occidental College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, CA | 1514 | 34 |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA | 1537 | 35 |
| Pomona College | Claremont, CA | 1520 | 34 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 1501 | 34 |
| Wesleyan University | Middletown, CT | 1513 | 34 |
Degree Programs at Occidental College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Occidental College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Occidental College run about $75,951 a year.
At about $80,636 a year, Occidental College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Occidental College's Pell Grant rate of 16.0% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 39.9%, Occidental College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Occidental College average a 3.63 GPA.
Occidental College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.33 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.23, Occidental College becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Occidental College — aim above 1461, ideally within the 1360–1500 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Occidental College is November 1 for Early Decision I (binding) applicants.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is 2026/01/10 (same as application deadline for need-based aid). Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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