Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · private nonprofit

Official site ↗

Admissions

Admit rate39.9%
Applicants
Middle-50% SAT1360–1500
Middle-50% ACT31–34
Avg GPA
Test policy
Avg net price / yr$39,329
Grad rate85%
Median earnings (10 yr)$75,951
Sourcescorecard_bulk · 2025

Application requirements

Early Decision2025-11-15
Early Decision II2026-01-10
Regular / Rolling2026-01-10
Application fee$0 (US) · $0 (intl)
Personal essayRequired
PortfolioVia SlideRoom
Test policynever required
Teacher recommendations1
Counselor recommendationRequired
Mid-year reportRequired

Source: Common App first-year Requirements Grid, 2025-26 cycle. Confirm on the college's site — requirements can change mid-cycle.

Supplemental essays

~200 words each.

  1. Why have you decided to transfer from your current/most recent institution?
  2. Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental, and our location in Los Angeles, is the right place for you to pursue your interests?
  3. In which area(s) do you intend to major, and how have your previous academic experiences influenced this decision?
  4. To help us better understand your history please provide us with a list, including dates, of the schools you have attended starting in high school. If there have been interruptions in your schooling, please include what you did during that time, and any other notable endeavors you have pursued.

Copied verbatim from the school's official admissions page (2025-26 cycle).