Occidental College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Occidental College was $62,850 a year.

Tuition increased 4.8% in 2023–from $59,970 the prior year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If these numbers feel scary, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition doesn't tell the full story. Many students pay way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you're done with college.

Occidental College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Occidental College is around $49,491 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $27,879 in student loans for each student with debt.

Occidental College: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Occidental College is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of California as it does for students who live in other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to verify your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other California colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Occidental College?

Occidental College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Occidental College:

•On-campus jobs •Occidental College-specific loans •Occidental College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Occidental College Room, Board, Fees, and More

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In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Occidental College.

House and Food Costs at Occidental College

Housing and campus dining at Occidental College is $18,284 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the Occidental College's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Occidental College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have ways for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Occidental College

The cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Occidental College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in an urban area may be expensive, but cities may offer more trains, busses or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Occidental Collegeis located in a city in California, near Los Angeles.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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The Full Cost of Attending Occidental College

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for Occidental College.

Total Cost of Occidental College

What will the cost of attending Occidental College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$62,850
Room and Board	$18,284

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$81,730
Off-Campus	$63,446

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Occidental College Financial Aid

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The majority of Occidental College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2023, 1,026 of the 1,942 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Occidental College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $49,491 a year. Around 49% of Occidental College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Occidental College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $27,879 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$19,263
Occidental College-Specific Loans	$9,778
Private Loans	$37,672

Most Common Loans for Occidental College Students
Federal Loans	46%
Institutional Loans	34%
Private loans	1%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Occidental College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Occidental College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Occidental College awarded 1,020 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $46.7 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $4.84 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Occidental College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Occidental College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Occidental College was $49,491 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Occidental College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$32,239
Off-Campus	$13,955

What will attending Occidental College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Occidental College's net cost calculator on their website.

Occidental College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Occidental College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Occidental College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Occidental College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Occidental College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Occidental College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Occidental College's endowment was $575.8 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Occidental College spends about $20,611 a year.

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Learn More About Occidental College

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