At $39,329/yr net price, Occidental College graduates earn $75,951/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $41,951/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $39,329 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $157,316 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,951/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$41,951/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 85.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,872/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,801/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,577/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,983/yr |
| $110,001+ | $55,885/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics. | Bachelor | $57,318 | |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $55,078 | $23,000 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor | $41,565 | $21,250 |
| Area Studies. | Bachelor | $39,369 | |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $37,779 | $25,700 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor | $37,208 | |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Bachelor | $36,132 | $19,275 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other. | Bachelor | $31,670 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $30,047 | $19,764 |
The Risk Factor
85.1% of students at Occidental College graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Occidental College gives you a mixed financial picture. The 85% graduation rate and 87% retention rate mean you're very likely to finish, and a median debt of $23,000 stays below what many private colleges saddle you with. But the median earnings ten years out sit under $76,000, which is modest against a sticker price that tops $55,000 a year if your family earns over $110k.
The program-level numbers complicate the picture further. Even the two best-paying majors here, mathematics and economics, land in the mid-to-high $50,000s a decade after graduation. Sociology, area studies, and political science all come in under $42,000, with political science graduates carrying more debt ($25,700) than economics majors while earning nearly $18,000 less. If you major in political science or sociology at Oxy, the math on your loans gets hard to justify.
The specific risk here is a liberal arts school in Los Angeles where the top-earning fields still don't produce high salaries. You're paying private-college prices for outcomes that hover near the national median. LA's cost of living makes a $37,000 to $55,000 starting-decade salary tight.
The net price tiers change the calculation completely depending on your income. If your family earns under $75k, you pay roughly $17,500 to $18,900 a year, which makes Oxy reasonable for a quantitative major. Cross into the $75-110k band and the price jumps to about $29,000. Above $110k, you pay the full $55,885, and at that price the earnings data does not support the cost unless you're set on math or economics.
Oxy fits you if you'll study mathematics or economics and qualify for the lower income tiers. If you're aiming at the humanities or social sciences and paying full price, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Occidental College worth the high cost?
Occidental College graduates earn $75,951 after 10 years, which is solid but may not justify the $39,329 annual net price for many students. The math and economics programs show better returns, but other popular majors like political science start at just $37,779.
What are the best paying majors at Occidental College?
Mathematics leads at $57,318 and economics follows at $55,078 in starting salaries. Avoid sociology and area studies if ROI matters to you, as these programs start around $40,000 despite the same tuition cost.
How much debt do Occidental College students graduate with?
The median debt is $23,000, which is manageable compared to many private schools. However, students in lower-paying majors may still struggle with loan payments given the weak earning potential in some programs.
Does Occidental College provide good financial aid?
The net price of $39,329 suggests decent financial aid since the sticker price is much higher. Still, this remains expensive for a school where many graduates earn under $40,000 in their first jobs.