Occidental meets demonstrated need for all admitted students.
We offer both need-based grants and merit scholarships to help families afford an Oxy education. It's part of our commitment to provide access to students who might not be able to attend Oxy.
Oxy Need-Based Grant
The majority of our financial aid comes in the form of need-based grants. Financial aid offers vary depending on individual circumstances. The Office of Financial Aid reviews the student's eligibility for need-based grants based on their annual financial aid application.
To be considered for these awards the student must complete their financial aid application by our established deadlines. First-year students and new transfer students must meet separate application requirements than returning students.
Oxy's need-based financial aid grant is based on the following three components:
- Student's academic year budget (cost of attendance)
- Student and family resources (expected family contribution)
- Student's financial aid eligibility (need)
Please visit our Policies webpage and download the policy guide for more details.
Named Scholarships
About Named Scholarships
Occidental students may be eligible to receive named endowed or current year/annual scholarships. These named scholarships are established by donors who are committed to supporting Oxy’s mission of access and opportunity as well as Oxy students. Some donors are alumni, many of whom were the beneficiaries of student aid, other donors are corporations or foundations, and others are parents or friends of the College who want to support our talented students. Named scholarships are awarded to students who meet specific qualifications as designated by the donor.
Information for Scholarship Recipients
A named scholarship can establish a direct and meaningful connection between a student and a donor. Many donors welcome the chance to meet or correspond with the students who receive their awards, which can provide a great opportunity for networking and mentorship. The College also provides annual stewardship reports to scholarship donors that include biographical information and statements of gratitude that students applying for financial aid submit for this purpose.
Additionally, our Office of Financial Aid or Institutional Advancement Office may reach out to recipients with further information about their donor and to ask them to write a note of appreciation; invite them to attend an event for scholarship donors; encourage them to communicate with their donor via a meeting, email, or phone; and/or ask if they would like to share their story with the greater Oxy community via a college publication. Encouraged, but not required, the above opportunities allow students to get further involved and engaged in promoting the College’s mission within the greater Occidental community.
Eligibility
A named scholarship does not represent additional funds from Occidental College; rather, named scholarships are college resources that make a previously offered institutional grant or scholarship possible. The Office of Financial Aid considers all grant and scholarship recipients for these funds automatically. Selection is based on a student’s match with a fund’s criteria. There is no separate application process and all eligible students who meet the qualifications for a particular fund will be considered for the named scholarships that are currently available. If you are selected for a named scholarship, you will receive an email notification from the Office of Financial Aid, which encourages you to submit a thank you letter of appreciation to the donor(s) if applicable. Under certain circumstances, the Institutional Advancement Office may also contact you for permission to more publicly share your story/biographical information beyond the donors who have established your scholarship, including with potential scholarship donors to the College.