Occidental College

About

Occidental College is a top liberal arts college, located in Los Angeles, CA. Alumni include President Barack Obama '83, Jack Kemp '57, federal judge Jacqueline Nguyen '87, and director Terry Gilliam '62.

Story

Each year, Occidental is cited as one of the country’s best small colleges by Fiske, Peterson’s, and other major college guides. Our high standards and innovative programs have been praised in Newsweek, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. But what sets us apart from other top schools?

ACADEMICS
The college guides are correct: our students work hard. Our professors are dedicated to teaching, and learning here means doing – designing your own experiments, conducting original research, testing theory in the real world. Standards are high, disciplinary boundaries are stretched, and intellectual lives take unanticipated turns.

DIVERSITY
Diversity is a fundamental part of academic excellence at Occidental, not something separate and apart. Diversity of race, of income, of religion, of nationality, of viewpoint – all these challenge our students inside the classroom and out, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly complex and intertwined world.

LOCATION
Our location offers advantages few other liberal arts colleges can match. Our students enjoy a close-knit community in Eagle Rock’s small-town setting, and the cultural, educational, and recreational resources of a major metropolis.

SIZE
With just 2,102 students, an average class size of 16, and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, we offer individual academic attention, a friendly residential community, and access to a remarkable variety of personal and intellectual opportunities.

Mission

The mission of Occidental College is to provide a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world. The distinctive interdisciplinary and multicultural focus of the College's academic program seeks to foster both the fulfillment of individual aspirations and a deeply rooted commitment to the public good.