Occidental College
Data sourced from IPEDS, Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy checked against the college's own pages on Oct 18, 2026.
Preparation
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. Occidental College admission
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 1 teacher recommendation, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Portfolio
- Portfolios go through SlideRoom. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $0. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Early Decision (binding) November 1, Early Action November 1, Early Decision II (binding) January 10, Regular Decision January 10. Common App requirements grid
My Fit uses this overall rate to classify your chances here.
- 1Biology
- 2Research and Experimental Psychology
- 3Quantitative Economics
- 4International Relations and Affairs
- 5Computer Science
- 6Film and Media Studies
- 7Political Science
- 8Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
- 9Comparative Literature
- 10Music
Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so Occidental College may call a major something slightly different.
Applying
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $0
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Portfolios collected through
- SlideRoom
- Recommendations
- 1 teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsMusic & Sports Tracks
Sports
Academics
Flagship Programs
Career & Major Pathways
Cost
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- $20,705
- $30,001 – $48,000
- $17,655
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $21,468
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $28,033
- Over $110,000
- $54,959
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Occidental's Early Decision admits are guaranteed a minimum $20,000 annual Oxy Commitment Scholarship; beyond that, aid is primarily need-based.
Campus
Campus Fit
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Common App requirements grid · 2026-27
‡Occidental College admission · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 28, 2026