Occidental College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Occidental College charges a net price of $38,263/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $153,052. Graduates earn a median $75,951 ten years after entry, $27,591/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.5 years — a 20-year net return of $398,768, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Occidental College's 5.5-year payback ranks #475 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 63% of them, and #78 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $38,263/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $153,052 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $75,951 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $27,591/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $398,768 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Occidental College's own numbers. Net price $38,263 × 4 years = $153,052 total. Median earnings $75,951 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $27,591 a year of premium. $153,052 ÷ $27,591 = 5.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $398,768. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Occidental College students graduate with?
A median $23,000 in federal loans among completers, or 30% of the $75,951 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Occidental College students graduate?
81% finish their degree. Spread the $153,052 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $188,953 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Occidental College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $38,263 net price runs $18,358 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $73,432 more across the full degree.