Occidental College: Examining Academic Reputation and Campus Environment
Occidental College, nestled in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, offers a liberal arts and sciences-based education that emphasizes immersive learning. But is it a "good school" when considering its academic reputation? This article delves into various aspects of Occidental College, exploring its academic strengths, student life, and campus environment to provide a comprehensive overview.
Academic Excellence with an L.A. Twist
Occidental College provides an "intellectually stimulating" environment for its undergraduates. The college offers 45 areas of study, setting the stage for a compelling intellectual adventure. Students appreciate the interdisciplinary aspect of academics, with one student sharing, "I love the interdisciplinary aspect of academics. I can really tailor my coursework to what I am interested in."
Undergraduate research, local and global learning opportunities, and close mentoring by faculty epitomize the academic experience. The faculty understands that learning comes from doing, and they seek ways for students to apply their new knowledge to real-world projects with community partners in the Los Angeles area and beyond. With this approach, students develop into critical thinkers who draw from multiple disciplines to help solve complex problems in the world around them. Beyond traditional study abroad programs, students can enroll in courses that include an international field trip. For example, they might travel with faculty to study marine biology in Costa Rica or music history in Austria. Students can also apply to spend a semester at the U.N., completing internships with country missions or various NGOs.
Rankings and Recognition
Occidental rose one place in US News & World Report’s 2025 Best College Rankings, landing at No. The College jumped eight spots to No. Occidental also ranked highly on two of the publication’s new lists, which included a separate category for liberal arts colleges for the first time. The College landed at No. 38 in the Most Innovative Schools index, which seeks to identify liberal arts colleges that are making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities. Occidental also debuted at No. 42 in Undergraduate Teaching Programs.
A Focus on Community and Inclusion
One of the many reasons students love Occidental is because it's really easy to find "a good niche of close friends at Oxy." As one undergrad notes, "If you're involved on campus, expect your friend group to continually grow." This welcoming and supportive nature even extends into the classroom, where "there is a communal desire to help each other succeed."
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Undergrads assert that their peers are "socially and politically conscious" and care deeply about issues affecting the world at large. Although some do acknowledge that it can feel as though the school maintains an "overwhelmingly left-wing atmosphere," they also insist that "every student at Oxy treats all persons equally, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious views," and most are readily "accepting of different opinions." Indeed, there's an emphasis on inclusion and visibility that is evident from groups like the First Gen Coalition and Chinese Culture Club, as well as themed housing like Women in Wellness and The Latinx Culture Collective.
Occidental is a place for creative, hard-working, and curious students to explore their passions and make an impact in the world. Outside the classroom, students can participate in more than 100 student clubs and organizations, compete on one of our 20 NCAA Division III athletic teams, or recharge amidst their supportive living community in one of 17 residence halls. Tucked into the vibrant neighborhood of Eagle Rock, Occidental's location allows students to explore Los Angeles in their free time with the campus as their home base.
Student Life and Extracurricular Activities
As you stroll around the campus, it's not hard to see that students are "excited to be at Occidental" and "people are really passionate about their extracurricular activities and internships." Undergrads can join a wide range of groups, including a sketch comedy troupe, a fiber arts club, and a food justice organization. Sports are also a popular social outlet. In fact, 45% of the student body is involved in athletics, be it a varsity, club, or intramural team. Additionally, school-sponsored events are typically well attended. Students often flock to hear "guest speakers [or participate in] dialogues and workshops." They also love going to the "dances, trivia nights, movie screenings, fashion shows, concerts, and food tastings" that Oxy organizes.
Career Services and Opportunities
Overall, “Occidental does a great job of providing its students with excellent resources and opportunities,” and this certainly extends to career services. Indeed, as one junior succinctly states, the “career development support is fantastic.” Undergrads really appreciate that Oxy runs a robust internship program, one in which they can earn course credit. Students also have the opportunity for “transformational summer experiences with employers throughout the Los Angeles area” through Oxy’s flagship InternLA program, which awards them a stipend and places them in real-world work situations at nonprofits. Not only can students earn academic credit for many of the internships arranged through the career services office, but it also provides them with invaluable insight into potential career tracks.
Free Speech Climate
Occidental College ranks 151 out of 257 schools in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings. It posts a score of 57, an F speech climate grade. Student perceptions present a sharp contrast. While Occidental places in the top 25 for “Openness,” it also ranks in the bottom 25 for “Political Tolerance,” indicating student reluctance to welcome speakers with opposing viewpoints. Every school's score is shaped by campus policies. Explore the key factors shaping this score. The Overall Score is made up of 12 parts. Six measure how students feel about free speech on campus. Three look at school speech policies. The last three look at how people on campus respond during speech controversies. The Grade is a letter based on the college's rounded Overall Score.
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Comfort Expressing Ideas measures how comfortable students feel sharing their views on controversial topics in different campus settings. Disruptive Conduct measures how acceptable students think it is to disrupt a campus speaker. Openness measures how many controversial topics students feel they can openly discuss on campus. Self-Censorship measures how often students hold back their views on campus. Administrative Support measures how clearly students think their school supports free speech and how likely the administration is to defend a speaker's rights during a controversy. Political Tolerance measures how willing students are to allow controversial speakers - on both the left and right - to speak on campus, even if they disagree with their views. Explore notable incidents where free speech was tested on campus. Honor Roll Statements are the number of public messages from a college or university defending free speech during a campus controversy.
Campus and Location
Situated on an idyllic 120-acre residential campus in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College offers a liberal arts and sciences-based education that prioritizes immersive learning in one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. Tucked into the vibrant neighborhood of Eagle Rock, Occidental's location allows students to explore Los Angeles in their free time with the campus as their home base.
Burbank Airport is 10 miles from campus. Super Shuttle and taxi service is available from the airport to campus. Los Angeles International Airport is farther from campus, but close enough that buses run from the airport to hotels in the Pasadena area not too far from campus. Amtrak trains and Greyhound/Trailways buses serve Los Angeles. Rapid Transit District bus service (public transportation) to campus is available from downtown L.A.: take either line 83 (on York Blvd.) or line 84 (on Eagle Rock Blvd.).
Affordability and Financial Aid
To make this one-of-a-kind college experience affordable, Occidental College helps students fund their education through generous financial aid, including merit scholarships, need-based grants, work-study, and student loans. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented students.
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