Study at Occidental College

Students attend Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA, a large city. The school is a private, not-for-profit institution. Occidental College degrees go up to the Master's degree.

Course Topics

The school has a greater breadth of degree programs (majors) than most colleges of its size. Occidental College is known for its programs in science, art studies, drama and performing arts, liberal arts, and conservation and resource management.

Occidental College Selectivity

The school is selective and does not offer open admission. One sign of prestige is that Occidental College only let in 44% of those who applied in 2007. Three quarters of students in 2007 had SAT verbal scores of at least 590. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 600 and 690.

Faculty

Occidental College maintains a faculty/student ratio (full-time) which is better than most colleges. The school has a tenure system for senior faculty. The full-time faculty at Occidental College is well-paid, which often goes with faculty quality.

Student Enrollment

There are 1,877 students at the school .

Student Life

Full-time students are the norm at Occidental College. The school has a residential or campus feel. Occidental College offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. The school values student athletics, and belongs to the Southern California Intercoll Athletic Conference.

The school reports its educational mission is:
"The mission of Occidental College is to provide a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, inter-dependent and pluralistic world. The distinctive interdisciplinary and multicultural focus of the Colleges academic program seeks to foster both the fulfillment of individual aspirations and a deeply rooted commitment to the public good. This mission is anchored by four cornerstones: excellence, equity, community and service. These building blocks, in one form or another, have long been the basis for the Colleges commitment to providing responsible leaders and citizens for our democratic society. Choosing them to support the future helps to ensure that the College remains true to its mission while adapting to a changing world."