General Philosophy

Financial aid at Occidental hinges on the idea that parents and students are primarily responsible for paying for college to the extent which they are able. After evaluating each family's ability, Oxy puts together a package of grants, scholarships, work programs, and student loans to meet a student's need.

Determining Eligibility

We use the CSS PROFILE and FAFSA applications to determine your expected family contribution (EFC). Your EFC is a measurement of what your family is expected to pay toward college costs.

If your parents are divorced/separated, Occidental also considers the EFC of your noncustodial parent when determining overall financial need. This information is collected through the Noncustodial Parent PROFILE.

Your EFC is determined by (but not limited to) some of the following factors:

• Parental Income (taxed and untaxed)
• Parental Assets (cash, savings, stocks, bonds, 529 accounts, equity on real estate property, etc.)
• Household Size
• Number of children enrolled at least half-time an undergraduate program
• Student Income (taxed and untaxed)
• Student Assets (cash, savings, trust funds, UTMA/UGMA investments, etc.)

Financial Need

The full cost of attending Occidental involves more than tuition and fees plus room and board. Books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses are also considered. To determine your eligibility for financial aid, we take the cost of attendance (COA) minus the expected family contribution.

COA - EFC = Financial Need

Financial need determines eligibility for the different types of financial aid programs: grants & scholarships, work programs, and student loans.

Your Tentative Awards

At Occidental, most first-year students are awarded $5,700 in need-based loans and $3,100 in work study. Any remaining need is met with grants and scholarships.

We encourage you to use our Net Price Calculator for an idea of the financial aid awards you could receive if you attend Oxy.

 

finaid@oxy.edu | phone: (323) 259-2548 | fax: (323) 341-4961