Types of Financial Aid Available
Merit Scholarships
Occidental offers merit scholarships at the time of admission. Merit scholarships are based on academic ability, achievement, motivation, and promise. Recipients are selected by the Office of Admission at the time of admission only.
Merit scholarship recipients may receive a maximum of eight semesters of scholarship funding provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined in the Financial Aid Policy Guide and Student Account Information booklet. Students enrolled in fewer than 6 units are not eligible for merit scholarships and merit scholarships are prorated for enrollment in 6 to 11 units. Merit scholarships for transfer students are pro-rated based upon the grade level determined at the time of admission.
Need-based Grants
The Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) are federal programs for which the Office of Financial Aid determines your eligibility. If you are eligible, your financial aid offer will list the type and amount of your academic year’s federal grant(s).
The Cal Grant is a grant program for qualified California residents attending California institutions. Offered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B will be reflected on your financial aid offer but may initially be included in your need-based Oxy Grant total. Cal Grant recipients must take a minimum of 16 units per semester in order to graduate in four years; eligibility is prorated for transfer students based on their grade level at the time of admission and any previously received Cal Grant funds. More information on eligibility and renewal criteria can be found at www.csac.ca.gov.
Occidental College need-based Grants, which include institutional donor-named and donor-funded grants, are offered to qualified students from the College’s own funds. To be eligible, students must be enrolled full-time (grants may be prorated for enrollment in at least 6 units) and maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the Financial Aid Policy Guide and Student Account Information booklet.
Need-based grants are provided through the generosity of individual donors, private corporations and agencies, alumni gifts, and other College resources. During the academic year, the College may notify you that your need-based grant was made possible by a specific donor. Donors want to hear from the students they support. Therefore, you may be asked to write a thank you letter to a specific donor, or attend an event with donors, during the academic year.
Student Loans
Student loans are available and can be either need-based or non-need-based. “Subsidized” student loans do not accrue interest while students are in school, in a grace period, or in deferment. The federal government pays the interest on the borrower’s behalf during these periods in the Federal Subsidized Direct Loan program. The federal government does not pay the interest at any time for students receiving “unsubsidized” student loans. Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are available to eligible students who complete a FAFSA.
Occidental College has two subsidized student loan programs available: the Occidental College Low-Interest Loan and the Occidental College No-Interest Loan. Details on the interest rates and grace periods are available in the promissory notes and disclosure statements for each loan but can also be found on the Office of Financial Aid’s website. The Occidental College No-Interest Loan program has additional criteria required and established by the original donor of this loan fund.
Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
The Federal Direct PLUS Loan program is designed to provide long-term competitive-rate financing to credit-worthy parents of dependent students. The interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan but is determined annually. Note: Starting July 1, 2026, new annual and aggregate loan limits apply to Federal Direct PLUS Loans. Your borrowing limit depends on whether a returning Occidental student qualifies for the limited exception. If the returning student qualifies, their parent can continue borrowing up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid your child receives. If the returning student doesn’t qualify, the maximum amount that can be borrowed by all parents is up to $20,000 per academic year and up to $65,000 over the course of the student’s undergraduate study.
Private Educational Loans
Private educational loans, also called alternative loans, are available for both students and parents. These loans are designed to supplement federal, state and institutional aid. Borrowers must be creditworthy and may be asked for a co-signer for approval or to receive a more competitive interest rate. A private educational loan annual amount may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance less any other financial aid the student is eligible to receive for the year.
Campus Employment
Part-time, on-campus employment is supported by the Federal Work Study (FWS) and the Occidental Work Award (OWA) programs. The amount indicated on your financial aid offer is the maximum amount that you are eligible to earn during the academic year under the program. Students will receive an automated email after every pay period notifying them of their year-to-date earnings. They will receive a similar email when they are close to exhausting their work-study amount.