Organizer Information
Occidental College is a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, California, offering more than 45 undergraduate majors and programs. Its arts-related academic offerings include Art & Art History, Media Arts & Culture, Music, and Theater & Performance Studies. The College combines liberal arts education with access to Los Angeles-based cultural, creative, media, and arts organizations.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Occidental College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: BA
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Art History, Film, Media, Photography, Music, Theater & Performance
- Relevant Programs: Art & Art History; Media Arts & Culture; Music; Theater & Performance Studies
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Fall 2027 admission cycle
- Application Deadline: 1 November or 10 January, depending on application round
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $0
- Tuition: $70,492 per year for 2026–2027
- Funding: Merit scholarships and limited need-based financial aid for international students.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Occidental's arts curriculum includes Art & Art History, with Studio Art and Art History emphases; Media Arts & Culture, covering film, documentary, experimental media, animation, digital media and interactive forms; Music; and Theater & Performance Studies. Studio Art includes painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, installation and interdisciplinary practices.
- Media Arts & Culture specifically combines film and media theory with hands-on production. No previous filmmaking experience is required to major in the program.
General Eligibility
- Occidental accepts both U.S. and international applicants. International students may apply as first-year or transfer applicants according to their academic history. First-year applicants apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application on Scoir. Transfer applicants must have completed college coursework after high school.
- Occidental is test-optional for SAT and ACT scores. Admission interviews and artistic supplements are optional.
Educational Background
- First-year applicants must provide high-school academic records, including a high school transcript, school report, counselor recommendation, midyear transcript and midyear report. A teacher recommendation from a core-subject teacher in grades 10–12 is also required.
- Transfer applicants must provide a final high-school transcript or GED certificate, college transcripts from all institutions attended, and a college report.
Language Requirements
International applicants whose school does not use English as its primary language of instruction must demonstrate English proficiency. Occidental's international admission page states minimum scores of 100 TOEFL iBT, 7.0 IELTS, or 130 DET. Applicants may be exempt if English is their first language or if they attended a high school where English was the primary language of instruction for more than three years.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-year applicants | $0 |
| Transfer applicants | $0 |
| International applicants | $0 |
Occidental states that it does not charge an application fee.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, full-time | All students | $70,492 | Annual | ASOC Student Body Fee $296.50; DEB Student Fee $21.50; SUSFund Fee $21.50; Senate Fee $21.50; Student Health Fee $250 |
The 2026–2027 Student Health Insurance charge is $4,062 annually and may be waived. Oswald's Essentials is listed at $27.50 per credit.
Funding & Financial Support
- International applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships, with no separate merit-scholarship application required. Occidental also offers need-based financial aid to a small number of international students; this assistance is highly competitive and is not guaranteed to meet full demonstrated need. International applicants must complete the International Student Financial Form after applying.
- Students admitted through Early Decision I or II for Fall 2027 receive the Occidental Commitment Scholarship of at least $20,000 per year, renewable for up to four years, subject to the scholarship's conditions.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant support includes academic advising, career services, disability services, the Writing Center, international student support, student research opportunities, arts internships, exhibition opportunities and access to arts facilities. Art & Art History students can pursue internships and research with Los Angeles cultural institutions, while Media Arts & Culture students have access to production facilities, equipment and faculty mentorship.
Application Requirements
International first-year applicants must submit:
- Personal essay
- High school transcript
- School report
- Counselor recommendation
- Midyear transcript
- Midyear report
- One teacher recommendation from a core subject
- English proficiency test, where required
- International Student Financial Form
- Early Decision agreement, if applicable
Optional materials include:
- Short-answer response
- Admission interview
- English-language interview
- SAT/ACT scores
- Additional recommendation
- Artistic supplement/portfolio via SlideRoom
- College transcripts, where applicable
The artistic supplement is optional rather than a general admission requirement.
How to Apply?
- Undergraduate Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision I Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Early Action Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Early Decision II Application Deadline: 10 January 2027
- Regular Decision Application Deadline: 10 January 2027
- Early Decision I Decision Release: By mid-December
- Early Action Decision Release: By mid-January
- Early Decision II Decision Release: By mid-February
- Regular Decision Decision Release: By mid-March
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
Location
Occidental College — Los Angeles, California, United States
Additional Details
- Occidental's Media Arts & Culture major offers two areas of focus: Critical Media and Media Production. The curriculum includes fiction, documentary, experimental and interactive media, as well as film and media history and theory.
- The College's published international English-language requirements contain an inconsistency: the dedicated English-language page currently displays 5.0 TOEFL iBT in one section, while the international admissions page states 100 TOEFL iBT and the surrounding admissions guidance treats 100 as the required minimum. The dedicated international admissions page is therefore the stronger program-admissions reference, and applicants should verify the current TOEFL requirement with Occidental before submitting scores.