Our Reputation

Twice during the past four years, Newsweek has named Occidental as one of the nation’s hottest colleges. That’s not because of any dramatic changes here. Rather, it’s a belated recognition of the core values that define the College.

Since winning our first Rhodes Scholarship in 1907, we have consistently won national and international recognition for academic achievement. U.S. News & World Report has ranked us in the top tier of liberal arts colleges since 1991.

Our students have an impressive record of getting into top graduate programs. We rank among the top 10 percent of liberal arts colleges whose graduates have earned Ph.D.s. Over the past 20 years, 570 of our graduates have gone to medical and dental schools across the country, including Harvard and Stanford.

Our alumni are successful: they run the American Red Cross and the Washington Post; direct cancer research at Amgen; produce movies at Revolution Studios, teach at Stanford, Vassar, and in public schools; and write best-selling books.