Who Gets In—and What We Look For

New students attend the opening of orientation in the Remsen Bird Amphitheatre at Occidental College.

Every admitted student brings something different to Occidental. Here’s what they have in common.

Occidental’s admissions process is holistic, thoughtful, and designed to build a dynamic and well-rounded class. Our most competitive applicants demonstrate strong academic preparation, personal curiosity, and a desire to engage deeply with their communities. On this page, you’ll find a snapshot of the most recent incoming class, along with insight into the kind of preparation we recommend for students applying to Occidental.

Class of 2029 Profile

A data snapshot of the most recent first-year class, including class size, demographics, academic stats, and application breakdowns.

437
Class Size
56%
Women
38%
Men
6%
Non-Binary

Background

Race and Ethnicity – IPEDs methodology

This categorization is based on the federal government’s definition and is used in the U.S. Census and within higher education in the .

  • Asian: 16%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 16%
  • Black or African American: 3%
  • White: 43%
  • Two or more races: 16%
  • U.S. Nonresident: 6%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0%

Race and Ethnicity – Over 100% Ethnic Background

This data uses the same ethnicity classifications as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), but does not utilize the "Two or more races" category. This data counts students in each category they select: if a student selects multiple ethnicities, they will be counted multiple times. Therefore, the total ethnicity breakdown adds up to more than 100%.

  • Asian: 31%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 16%
  • Black or African American: 8%
  • White 65%
  • U.S. Nonresident: 6%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native: 2%
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 2%

Class Diversity

  • Domestic students of color: 51%
  • First-generation students: 14%
  • International or dual citizens: 18%
  • Students with languages other than English spoken at home: 30%

Geographic Distribution

  • Number of states represented: 37 (plus District of Columbia and North Mariana Islands)
  • Number of countries represented: 21
  • Students from high schools in California: 43%
  • Students from other U.S. states: 49%
  • Students from high schools outside the U.S.: 8%

Applications

First-year applicants: 7,489

  • Early Decision I applicants: 257
  • Early Decision II applicants: 167
  • Regular Decision applicants: 7,050
  • 2024 admits that deferred to 2025: 15

Overall admit rate: 44.9%

  • Admit rate for Early Decision: 65%
  • Admit rate for Regular Decision: 44.6%
  • Percent of seats in the class filled in Early Decision rounds: 36%

Standardized Tests and GPA

  • Median unweighted GPA: 3.68
  • Middle 50%* SAT EBRW/Critical Reading score: 700-760
  • Middle 50%* SAT Math score: 670-760
  • Middle 50%* ACT score: 31-34

*33 percent of first-year students submitted test scores

Most Popular Majors

  • Economics
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Undecided
  • Politics
  • Media Arts & Culture
  • Diplomacy & World Affairs
  • Kinesiology

Occidental admits students to the College as a whole—not to specific majors. You’ll have two years (four semesters) to explore before declaring a major. Our flexible curriculum makes double majors and multiple minors common.

Academic Preparation for Admission

An Occidental student studies in the library

We don’t expect a perfect transcript—but we do look closely at the courses you’ve taken and how you’ve challenged yourself. To prepare for admission to Occidental, we recommend taking five core academic subjects each year of high school, including:

  • 4 years of English/literature/composition
  • 4 years of math
  • 3-4 years of science
  • 3-4 years of social studies
  • 3-4 years of foreign language

If your school offers them, AP, IB, honors, or advanced-level classes can help demonstrate your academic readiness—especially when pursued in a balanced and sustainable way.

Students are generally considered academically competitive if they have reached the equivalent of AP/IB/advanced-level in at least 3 out of the 5 core subject areas. We recognize that not every high school offers the same courses, and scheduling or individual strengths may mean you won’t reach the highest level in every subject. This guideline is meant to give you a sense of what successful applicants often look like–not to serve as a cutoff. Every application is reviewed holistically and in the context of your high school.   

What We Mean by Holistic Review

Occidental doesn’t admit students by major, and we don’t rely solely on grades or scores. We consider the whole of your application in context: what courses were available to you, how you performed over time, and how you’ve taken advantage of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

We’re looking for students who will thrive in a rigorous liberal arts environment, contribute to our diverse and collaborative community, are willing to take risks, and bring curiosity to every aspect of their education.

 

Contact Admission
Collins House

1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041

Phone: (323) 259-2700
admission@oxy.edu