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Academics

Occidental College
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Occidental College?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

9:1
Student to faculty ratio
17
Average class size
72%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Occidental has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
95
10-19
225
20-29
107
30-39
27
40-49
1

Honors Programs

Occidental College has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Occidental's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Occidental College:

87%
First-year retention rate
72%
4-year grad rate
85%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Occidental College's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
International Relations and Affairs
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Computer Science
23.4
31.32
39.24
47.16
55.08
63

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • East Asian Studies 3
  • Area Studies, Other 2
  • African-American/Black Studies 2
  • American/United States Studies/Civilization 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 38
  • Biochemistry 17
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 30
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 11
Foreign Languages
  • Comparative Literature 22
  • Spanish Language and Literature 1
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 1
  • French Language and Literature 0
  • Japanese Language and Literature 0
  • Chinese Language and Literature 0
History
  • History, General 8
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 14
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Cognitive Science, General 23
  • Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis 15
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General 1
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General 1
  • MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES 1
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 22
Parks
  • Exercise Science and Kinesiology 16
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 9
  • Religion/Religious Studies 4
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 11
  • Physics, General 9
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 5
Psychology
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 51
Social Sciences
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 63
  • International Relations and Affairs 46
  • Sociology, General 16
  • Political Science and Government, General 15
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Film/Cinema/Media Studies 20
  • Music, General 15
  • Art/Art Studies, General 8
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2

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