Occidental College vs Pacific Oaks College

Occidental College and Pacific Oaks College, two distinct institutions of higher learning in Los Angeles, California, offer unique educational experiences for prospective students. Occidental, a highly selective liberal arts college, boasts an acceptance rate of 34%, while Pacific Oaks, a private, nonprofit college focused on human development and social change, maintains an open admissions policy. Occidental's student body is predominantly undergraduate, with a diverse population representing various backgrounds and interests. Pacific Oaks, on the other hand, caters to a more diverse student body, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, with a strong emphasis on social justice and community engagement. While both institutions offer a range of academic programs, Occidental is known for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, while Pacific Oaks excels in fields related to education, psychology, and human development. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we present a comprehensive comparison of Occidental College and Pacific Oaks College, highlighting key differences in acceptance rates,
Occidental College logo

Occidental College

Pacific Oaks College logo

Pacific Oaks College

Overview

Location Los Angeles, California Pasadena, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 92.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 38.2% 13.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $55
SAT range 1340 - 1490 N/A
ACT range 30 - 33 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 29.0%
Students submitting ACT score 22.0%
Total number of applicants 6,495 23
Total number of admissions given out 2,484 3
Admitted students who chose to enroll 535 1
Yield rate 21.5% 33.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $77,878 $40,824
Average net price $43,047
Tuition $57,830 $11,482
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,512

Meal plan: $8,090
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $29,715
Students receiving federal student loan 31.0%
Average amount $4,603
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $6,554

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,964
Men 42.1% Women 57.9%
479
Men 9.0% Women 91.0%
Graduate students N/A 696
Men 13.1% Women 86.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 62.5% N/A
International students 6.3% 0.2%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,650 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington New York Illinois Mississippi N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Physical Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Psychology
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 5:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 82.9% N/A
Dropout rate 4.1% N/A
Transferred out 12.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,544
  • Year 2: $55,078
  • Year 3: $63,231
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,360
  • Year 2: $37,779
  • Year 3: $49,843
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,329
  • Year 2: $36,132
  • Year 3: $45,083
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,948
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $43,488
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $33,877
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,967
  • Year 3: $31,152
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,035
  • Year 2: $26,933
  • Year 3: $31,095
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,916
  • Year 2: $30,047
  • Year 3: $30,729
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $15,793
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,319
  • Year 2: $53,017
  • Year 3: $56,106
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,653
  • Year 2: $47,781
  • Year 3: $54,126
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,799
  • Year 2: $46,478
  • Year 3: $48,992
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,256
  • Year 2: $37,883
  • Year 3: $39,348
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,812
  • Year 2: $39,927
  • Year 3: N/A

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