Let us know of your sincere interest in Occidental and we’ll let you know your decision a lot sooner than late March.
Occidental offers two rounds of early decision to students who have identified us as their clear first choice and are committed to entering a binding commitment if accepted. Our Early Decision I deadline is November 15 . The Early Decision II deadline is January 10 . Our regular decision deadline is January 10. All deadlines and their respective decision notification dates are listed below.
| Round |
Application Deadline |
Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|
|
Early Decision I |
November 15 |
December 15 |
|
Early Decision II |
January 10 |
February 20 |
|
Regular Decision |
January 10 |
April 1 |
We continue to find it particularly compelling when students tell us that Occidental is their first choice, so our admit rates for Early Decision applicants are higher than for those in Regular Decision. Historically, we generally reserve 1/3 of our seats in the first-year class for students in the Early Decision rounds and 2/3 of seats for Regular Decision applicants.
| Fall '18 Entry | Fall '19 Entry | Fall '20 Entry | Fall '21 Entry | Fall '22 Entry | Fall '23 Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED admit rate | 48% | 47% | 47% | 58% | 59% | 52% |
| RD admit rate | 36% | 36% | 38% | 35% | 38% | 38% |
| Percentage of first-year seats filled in ED rounds | 31% | 30% | 35% | 36% | 43% | 39% |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Early Decision binding?
- Is there a substantive difference between Early Decision I and Early Decision II?
- Do students who apply in Early Decision have an advantage in the admission process?
- If I am denied in Early Decision, can I apply in another round?
- What additional information is required of Early Decision applicants?
- My decision to attend will depend on my financial aid package. Will I be able to decline if my financial aid package is not what I want it to be?
Is Early Decision binding?
Yes. ED is binding (unlike “early admission” or “early action”), and it means that if admitted, you will enroll at Oxy and must withdraw all other applications you initiated with other colleges/ universities.
Is there a substantive difference between Early Decision I and Early Decision II?
Only in terms of the deadline date. We maintain similar admission rates between both rounds of Early Decision.
Do students who apply in Early Decision have an advantage in the admission process?
Yes. We find it particularly compelling when students tell us that Oxy is their first choice, so our admit rates for Early Decision applicants are slightly higher than for those in Regular Decision. We generally reserve 1/3 of our seats in the first-year class for students in the Early Decision rounds and 2/3 of seats for Regular Decision applicants.
If I am denied in Early Decision, can I apply in another round?
No. ED decisions come in three forms: admit, deny and defer. We know you are very serious about Oxy if you apply ED, so the majority of our decisions are definitive as either admit or deny. A decision to defer a student to the Regular Decision pool is carefully weighed and based upon our desire to see further information in the context of our overall applicant pool.
What additional information is required of Early Decision applicants?
A completed ED application includes a signed Early Decision Agreement (available on the Common App) with signatures from a parent/guardian and a counselor.
My decision to attend will depend on my financial aid package. Will I be able to decline if my financial aid package is not what I want it to be?
Occidental is one of very few institutions in the United States committed to meeting 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need. We are committed to making the full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room/board, etc.) affordable, no matter a family’s financial situation. We ask that families applying for Early Decision investigate the cost of attendance by completing the Net Price Calculator well in advance of submitting an Early Decision application. Because Occidental meets 100% of a family’s demonstrated need, our financial aid packages are typically among the most generous aid packages available.
It should be noted that Occidental offers very few merit-based scholarships; the vast majority of our institutional funding is set aside for need-based assistance. Families who need to compare financial aid and/or merit packages between institutions would be unable to do so in Early Decision.