Occidental College

Occidental College is a private liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast. Occidental offers undergraduate programs across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, with an emphasis on small classes and close faculty interaction. The college is known for integrating academic study with civic engagement and for its connections to the cultural and professional opportunities of Los Angeles. Students drawn to Occidental College often seek a residential liberal arts experience in an urban setting, with opportunities for research, community-based learning, and interdisciplinary study.

Occidental College was founded in 1887 in Los Angeles by Presbyterian clergy and lay leaders who sought to establish a coeducational liberal arts institution in Southern California. The college first opened in Boyle Heights and relocated to Highland Park in 1898 after a campus fire. In 1912, Occidental College began developing its current campus in the Eagle Rock neighborhood, designed by architect Myron Hunt. The institution became officially non-sectarian in 1910, broadening its mission beyond its Presbyterian roots. During the twentieth century, Occidental College expanded its academic programs, constructed major campus buildings, and strengthened its liberal arts curriculum. It launched one of the nation’s early Upward Bound programs in 1966 and continued to emphasize civic engagement. Today, Occidental College operates as a residential liberal arts college in Los Angeles, maintaining its historic campus while adapting to contemporary higher education needs.