Top Ranked Programs
Occidental College's program mix is anchored in social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary fields—a signature aligned with the institution's liberal arts identity in Los Angeles. Economics is the largest program with 85 graduates, followed by International Relations and National Security Studies, Biology, General, Research Psychology, and Computer Science. The program portfolio reflects a concentration in Social Sciences (representing 30% of degrees), alongside Arts (10%) and other STEM fields (4%). The highest-earning programs at Occidental College cluster in applied and quantitative fields. Economics leads with median earnings of $103,164 four years after enrollment from 85 graduates, followed by Cognitive Science at $78,782 (23 graduates), Political Science at $72,441 (22 graduates), International Relations and National Security Studies at $70,394, and Biology, General at $59,985. These earnings reflect outcomes for graduates entering the workforce directly in fields with strong labor-market demand. Many of Occidental College's largest programs—particularly those in social sciences and humanities—represent pathways where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school, meaning four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory for those students. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national labor-market trends and wage growth across sectors.