First-Generation Applicants

First in your family to apply? The Occidental community is here to support you.

Your journey is unique, and we're here to support it every step of the way. As a first-generation student at Occidental, you'll find a vibrant, inclusive community ready to champion your success, answer your questions, and open doors to new opportunities. From navigating admissions and financial aid to thriving on campus, this is your place to start strong.

Affordable

Occidental meets 100% of the demonstrated need of every student admitted to the College, making the total cost of attendance comparable to public institutions.

Diverse

Students come from 47 states and 34 countries, mirroring a widespread diversity found across the sprawling city of Los Angeles. 47.7% of the student body are students of color, and nearly 14% are first-generation.

Personal attention and support

Aside from close attention and support from teaching faculty, our First-Gen Coalition offers a plenitude of support services and community-building spaces for students.

What is a liberal arts college?

Liberal arts colleges are undergraduate-only institutions that emphasize learning across disciplines, from art practice to lab sciences. Instead of following a rigid four-year course list, students are encouraged to explore new ideas and subjects in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences before declaring a major.

Class sizes are small, fostering a collaborative learning environment and close faculty mentorship. The result is an enriching and highly personalized academic experience. Graduates gain critical thinking skills and an adaptability that is highly valuable in today’s competitive job market and graduate programs.

Exploring Occidental

Students studying on the Occidental campus

Areas of Study

Search our academic majors and minors.

Culture of Care

See our resources for success in and out of the classroom.

Inclusion at �鶹��ý

Learn about programs that support diverse populations.

First generation student support

Our First-Gen Coalition helps first-generation students effectively navigate the learning environment, cultivate a sense of belonging with peers, build familiarity with valuable campus resources, and connect with mentorship. Programming includes our:

Intercultural Community Center

The ICC is an ever-evolving space that serves as a location for critical thinking and rich discussion across diverse groups, in addition to a physical home away from home, prioritizing BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and first-generation college students.

Explore the ICC

Occidental student and faculty member on the quad

Student Success Center

From academic guidance, to support with mental well being and professional development, our Student Success Center is a vast collection of resources available to every Occidental Tiger.

Writing Center

Whether you're stuck on a thesis statement or struggling to articulate your thoughts about a topic in class, Occidental's Writing Center offers every student support with their writing at any stage in the process.

Details

Other programming and support services include our Multicultural Summer Institute, Career Center, , Disability Services Office, and Emmons Wellness Center.

Next steps

There are a number of ways that students can engage with Occidental throughout the college search process. By browsing and taking action on the items listed below, you will begin to get a sense of whether or not Occidental is the right fit for you. At the same time, we can better gauge your interest in the College, which is important for us to know when it comes time to make admission decisions.

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Admission and financial aid

Occidental seeks to admit a highly qualified, diverse student body. We’ll closely review your transcript for academic rigor and performance. We also give serious consideration to qualities such as motivation, intellectual curiosity, leadership ability, and distinctive talents.

Application Requirements

GREAT NEWS! We’ve eliminated our application fee—applying to Occidental is now completely free.

Financial aid and scholarships

�鶹��ý meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented students. That means that the College will help cover the gap between the total cost of attendance and how much a family can afford to pay. If you plan to apply for need-based financial aid at Occidental, you will need to submit your financial aid applications through both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the CSS Profile by the same deadline that you are applying for admission. To get an initial sense of the financial aid you'd receive at Occidental, use one (or both) of our quick cost estimators. Undocumented applicants have different processes for financial aid consideration.

California applicants may be eligible for the Cal Grant Promise, a financial aid award that covers 100% of tuition at Occidental. Read more about this opportunity on our website.

Costs & Financial Aid

Undocumented status

We encourage all students, regardless of citizenship status or national origin, to apply to the College. However, we recognize that this citizenship status can add complications to submitting the application and financial aid information. Visit our undocumented and DACA students webpage for guidance on how to fill out the application.

Undocumented Applicants

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