Everything you need, all in one place, to support the Occidental hopefuls in your orbit.
What’s New at Oxy
Here are the highlights
Applying to Oxy
Occidental's Fall 2024 application is open! Make sure to read up about our application process, learn more about this year's short answer questions, and watch this video with application essay writing tips.
Engage with Oxy
High School & CBO Visits
Our admission officers are traveling domestically. Please contact your regional admission counselor about the possibility of a visit to your school or organization.
Support at Oxy
Watch this virtual webinar for education professionals committed to holistically supporting Black and African American students. This panel focuses on anti-racism and empowerment in K-12 and higher education.
Affording Oxy
Occidental meets 100 percent of the demonstrated need of the students we admit. We extend financial aid through merit scholarships, need-based grants, work study, and student loans to meet the various needs and circumstances of our students.
Costs & Financial Aid
Quick Cost Estimators
Meet the Financial Aid Team
Financial Aid Highlights
- 77% of current students receive institutional grants or scholarships
- 100% of demonstrated need is met
- $81,730 is the annual cost of attendance
- $39,307 is the average scholarship/grant package
We use the CSS Profile and FAFSA to determine a family’s contribution to educational costs. If the student’s parents are divorced or separated, we also consider the finances and contribution of the noncustodial parent when determining overall financial need. This information is collected through the noncustodial parent’s CSS Profile. In a limited number of cases, the noncustodial parent’s information may be waived. You must submit the CSS Profile Waiver Request for the Noncustodial Parent for consideration. Submission of this request does not guarantee that a waiver will be approved.
Undocumented students are considered for need-based financial aid like any U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Because federal financial aid is not available for undocumented students, institutional funding is used in its place. Undocumented students residing in CA may be eligible to receive state grant funds through the California Dream Act. More information about this application process can be found on the California Student Aid Commission website.
The financial aid process for undocumented students is similar to the process for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents; however, the federal FAFSA application is waived for undocumented students. Undocumented students will only need to complete the CSS Profile by the due dates for the financial aid application. Visit our Financial Aid website for more information.
Parental citizenship status will NOT affect a student’s financial aid eligibility at Occidental since aid is determined solely by financial need. Whether or not the student’s parents file U.S. federal income taxes, the student must provide their parents' financial information on the financial aid applications.
While students can list their parent's Social Security number on the CSS Profile application, verification of their identity for the FAFSA is a multi-step process. For the FAFSA, the parent is required to create a studentaid.gov account that involves knowledge-based verification questions via TransUnion. If a parent is unable to complete the TransUnion process, they will receive instructions to contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center to provide acceptable documentation to verify their identity.