Occidental College

In 2022, Occidental College's tuition was $59,970 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 3.7%–from $57,830 the previous year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams feel scary, remember, the displayed price of tuition does not tell the full story. Many students pay much less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Additionally, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Occidental College

Occidental College is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for students from California as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public insitutions often offer a lower cost of attendance for those who qualify as California residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state status can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to verify your state's criteria for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other California colleges

Occidental College International Student Tuition

Occidental College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or Occidental College-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Occidental College:

•On-campus jobs •Occidental College-specific loans •Occidental College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Occidental College Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Occidental College.

House and Food Costs at Occidental College

Housing and campus dining at Occidental College is $17,330 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the Occidental College's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Board costs vary based on on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Occidental College?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools offer resources so that those with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Transportation costs

The cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Occidental College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in an urban area is usually expensive, but there may be more trains, busses and affordable flights to actually get to school. Occidental Collegeis located in a urban setting in California, not far from Los Angeles.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, don’t forget to consider personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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The Full Cost of Attending Occidental College

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Occidental College.

Total Cost of Occidental College

What will the cost of attending Occidental College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$59,970
Room and Board	$17,330

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$77,896
Off-Campus	$60,566

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Occidental College Financial Aid

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The majority of Occidental College undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2022, 1,004 of the 1,965 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Occidental College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $48,038 a year. Around 55% of Occidental College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Occidental College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $30,233 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$21,197
Occidental College-Specific Loans	$9,490
Private Loans	$66,188

Most Common Loans for Occidental College Students
Federal Loans	51%
Institutional Loans	34%
Private loans	1%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Occidental College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Occidental College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Occidental College awarded 998 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $39 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $8.3 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Occidental College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Occidental College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Occidental College was $48,038 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Occidental College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$29,858
Off-Campus	$12,528

What will attending Occidental College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Occidental College's net cost calculator on their website.

Occidental College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Occidental College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Occidental College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Occidental College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

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Learn More About Occidental College

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