Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · founded 1887 · 2,000 students · liberal arts college · Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)

Known for: Occidental College is known for being a highly selective liberal arts college in urban Los Angeles and as the undergraduate alma mater of President Barack Obama, who attended from 1979-1981 before transferring to Columbia University.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #38
Forbes: #91

Top programmes

Diplomacy and World Affairs
Economics
Biology
Politics
English
Kinesiology

Notable alumni

Barack Obama — 44th President of the United States (attended 1979-1981, transferred to Columbia)
Ben Affleck — Academy Award-winning actor and director (attended briefly)
Jack Kemp — NFL quarterback, U.S. Congressman, and Vice Presidential candidate
Terry Gilliam — Monty Python member and acclaimed film director
Erin Gruwell — Educator and author of The Freedom Writers Diary
Ry Cooder — Grammy-winning guitarist and composer
Neko Case — Indie rock singer-songwriter

Traditions

The Big Show (annual student talent showcase)
Oxy Arts (community arts festival)
Founder's Day convocation
Late Night Breakfast during finals week

If Occidental College were…

As a food: LA street tacos from a Boyle Heights truck — Authentic, diverse, unpretentious, and deeply rooted in the city's multicultural fabric—Oxy is the liberal arts college that tastes like Los Angeles itself, accessible but sophisticated, with layers of flavor you only ap
As an athlete: Colin Kaepernick — Politically fearless, socially conscious, and willing to sacrifice comfort for principle, Kaepernick embodies Oxy's activist DNA—this is a campus where taking a knee isn't controversial, it's expected.
As a person alive today: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — Young, diverse, unapologetically progressive, and media-savvy, AOC captures Oxy's blend of idealism and pragmatism—students here want to dismantle systems AND know how to work a campaign.
As a historical figure: Cesar Chavez — The labor organizer and civil rights icon represents Oxy's commitment to grassroots justice, coalition-building across racial lines, and the belief that education should serve the marginalized, not just the elite.
As a movie or TV show: Dear White People — Sharp, diverse, politically charged, and unafraid to make privileged liberals uncomfortable, the show mirrors Oxy's campus culture—where identity politics, activism, and self-awareness collide in a small, intense communi
As a US president: Barack Obama — Obama literally taught at Oxy before transferring to Columbia, and the college embodies his coalition-building, multicultural, aspirational liberalism—hopeful but aware of systemic barriers, eloquent about justice but pr
As a city: Oakland — Diverse, politically activated, artsy, and overshadowed by a flashier neighbor (SF/LA proper), Oakland captures Oxy's vibe—scrappy, socially conscious, and proud of being the more authentic alternative to the Ivies.
As an element: Lithium — Highly reactive, essential for modern batteries and green energy, and requiring careful handling, lithium mirrors Oxy's charged political atmosphere—energizing, forward-looking, but volatile when different ideologies col
As a car: 2021 Toyota Prius Prime — Occidental runs on hybrid idealism—LA-progressive values meet pragmatic pre-professionalism, Obama-alumni credibility, environmentally conscious but still needs to navigate the 110 freeway, and perfectly calibrated for s

Campus life

Occidental offers an intimate, intellectually engaged campus culture with strong emphasis on social justice and civic engagement in the heart of Los Angeles. Students balance rigorous academics with access to internships, cultural events, and outdoor activities throughout Southern California. The residential campus fosters close faculty-student relationships and a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere.