Occidental College
Occidental College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Occidental College at a Glance
Occidental College is a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1887 as a coeducational college by clergy and members of the Presbyterian Church, it became non-sectarian in 1910. It is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast of the United States.
1887
139 years old
$654M
$654.3 million (2024)
1,854
276
120 acres
Identity
Is Occidental College Worth It?
Occidental College offers moderate value at $38,263/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $75,951, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 83% graduation rate means roughly 17% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Occidental College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #7 of 17 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Union College | 53 | $34,561 | $88,604 |
| #2 | Mount Holyoke College | 47 | $26,441 | $58,418 |
| #3 | Gettysburg College | 47 | $31,490 | $71,517 |
| #4 | Scripps College | 45 | $36,294 | $77,539 |
| #5 | Connecticut College | 43 | $36,175 | $75,001 |
| #6 | St. Francis College | 43 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| #7 | Occidental College | 41 | $38,263 | $75,951 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Occidental College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in CA.
Best Programs at Occidental College
The highest-earning program at Occidental College is Economics at $47,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is International Relations and National Security Studies at $26,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Occidental College earns $47,200, while a International Relations and National Security Studies graduate earns $26,700. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $23,232 in median debt vs. $21,000 for International Relations and National Security Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $38,263/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $47,200 | $47,200 | $23,232 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,800 | $31,800 | $22,150 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $31,200 | $31,200 | $21,283 |
| Sociology | $30,200 | $30,200 | $22,450 |
| Psychology, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $23,000 |
| Biology, General | $27,900 | $27,900 | $21,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,500 | $27,500 | $19,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $26,700 | $26,700 | $21,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Student Body
- 1,877 students
- Admission Rate
- 44%
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $38,263
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $75,951
- Median Student Debt
- $23,000