Occidental College
Los Angeles, California · Private, nonprofit · 1,877 undergraduates
Of 13 programs with reported earnings, 11 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 19 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $20,705 |
| $30k to $48k | $17,655 |
| $48k to $75k | $21,468 |
| $75k to $110k | $28,033 |
| $110k and up | $54,959 |
| All families (average) | $38,263 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $103,164 | +$66,188 | clears the bar | $23,000 | 0.3 yrs |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $70,394 | +$33,418 | clears the bar | $19,275 | 0.6 yrs |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $59,985 | +$23,009 | clears the bar | $26,272 | 1.1 yrs |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $63,845 | +$26,869 | clears the bar | $22,067 | 0.8 yrs |
| Cognitive Science | Bachelor's Degree | $78,782 | +$41,806 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $30,526 | -$6,450 | falls short | $20,500 | n/a |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $72,441 | +$35,465 | clears the bar | $25,700 | 0.7 yrs |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $59,542 | +$22,566 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $88,080 | +$51,104 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's Degree | $23,605 | -$13,371 | falls short | n/a | n/a |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $58,598 | +$21,622 | clears the bar | $21,250 | 1 yr |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Bachelor's Degree | $71,779 | +$34,803 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $56,800 | +$19,824 | clears the bar | $19,764 | 1 yr |
Access and outcomes: 17% of students receive Pell grants · 81% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.