Occidental College Athletics

Occidental competes in NCAA Division III, where athletics focus on personal development rather than big crowds or scholarships. The Tigers field 18 varsity sports with 364 total athletes, meaning about 20% of the 1,844 students participate in varsity athletics. Division III schools don't offer athletic scholarships, so student-athletes receive $0 in athletic aid and compete primarily for the love of the game. Occidental belongs to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference alongside schools like Caltech and Pomona-Pitzer. The small liberal arts environment creates tight-knit teams where academics come first. Most games draw modest crowds of classmates and parents rather than packed stadiums. The Tigers maintain respectable programs across multiple sports, though the school is better known for producing presidents and Hollywood stars than championship banners.