- Acceptance rate: 44% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 690–750 reading and writing, 690–770 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 31–34 composite
- Average net price: $47,113 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Occidental College reported: an acceptance rate of 44% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 31–34.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Occidental College reviews each application.
Occidental College GPA requirements
Occidental College doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Occidental College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Occidental College acceptance rate
Occidental College admitted 2,854 of 6,461 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 44%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Occidental College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Los Angeles, California, with 1,881 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Occidental College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 690 | 720 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 690 | 720 | 770 |
| ACT Composite | 31 | 33 | 34 |
| ACT English | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 28 | 30 | 33 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1452 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Occidental College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Occidental College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $47,113 a year at Occidental College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is Occidental College hard to get into?
It's selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. Occidental College admitted 44% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Can I get into Occidental College with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Occidental College admitted 44% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What percent of applicants does Occidental College accept?
Occidental College's acceptance rate was 44% for fall 2024: it admitted 2,854 of 6,461 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA does Occidental College look for?
Occidental College doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How much does GPA matter at Occidental College?
It's one factor among several: Occidental College requires high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores, demonstration of competencies and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What are Occidental College's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Occidental College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 690–750 in reading and writing and 690–770 in math; ACT composite 31–34, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Is Occidental College test optional?
Yes. Occidental College considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 20% sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.
What do students pay at Occidental College after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $47,113 a year at Occidental College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Occidental College give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Occidental College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Occidental College look at legacy status?
No. Occidental College doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Occidental College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Occidental CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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