Soka University of America Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Soka University of America is a private research university in Aliso Viejo, California, enrolling about 484 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 43.38% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $55,017 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $38,728
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,260 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 43.38% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 484 100.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 91.82%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 76.9%
- Average SAT Score: 1440
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 488
- Applicants (IPEDS): 397
- Room & Board: $14,378 annual estimate
Soka University of America: what the data shows
Common questions about Soka University of America, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Soka University of America?
Soka University of America is located in Aliso Viejo, CA (ZIP 92656-8081).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Soka University of America public or private?
Soka University of America is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Soka University of America cost?
Published tuition: $38,728.
Average net price after aid: $18,260.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,020 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,619 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,049 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,724 |
| $110,001+ | $30,940 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $154,912.
How hard is it to get into Soka University of America?
Admission rate: 43.38%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1440 and midpoint ACT 26.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Soka University of America?
Total enrollment: 484 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 488 students.
Graduate enrollment: 11 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Soka University of America?
150%-time completion rate: 91.82%.
First-year retention: 90.5%.
What do graduates of Soka University of America earn?
Median earnings: $42,696 six years after entry; $55,017 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $15,650.
20.43% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Soka University of America known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (87 completions)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General (6 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Soka University of America a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 43.38%; completion rate 91.82%; median earnings $55,017 at 10 years; net price $18,260. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$38,728
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Soka University of America was $38,728.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,260
2024 Value
In 2024 Soka University of America had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,260.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$73,040 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,260 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$154,912 4-Year Tuition
$14,378 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$54,168 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$216,672 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Soka University of America.
Financial Aid by Income Level
20.43% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
37.20% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Soka University of America was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Soka University of America in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $29,144 | $29,144 | $10,450 |
| 2014 | $30,214 | $30,214 | $12,208 |
| 2015 | $30,642 | $30,642 | $5,782 |
| 2016 | $31,042 | $31,042 | $14,061 |
| 2017 | $31,776 | $31,776 | $13,854 |
| 2018 | $33,146 | $33,146 | $15,635 |
| 2019 | $33,982 | $33,982 | $13,914 |
| 2020 | $33,962 | $33,962 | $19,843 |
| 2021 | $34,166 | $34,166 | $11,846 |
| 2022 | $35,544 | $35,544 | $21,267 |
| 2023 | $37,450 | $37,450 | $21,446 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
43.38% Acceptance Rate
397 Total Applicants
276 Students Admitted
126 First-Time Students Enrolled
45.65% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1440
ACT Average: 26
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.7 - 3.9
Estimated Median GPA: 3.80
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Soka University of America reported total enrollment of about 484 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Non-Resident Alien (55.4%), Hispanic or Latino (14.1%), and White (11.8%). About 20.43% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Soka University of America in 2024 is 484 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 488 students. Graduate enrollment is about 11 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
90.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Non-Resident Alien at 55.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
79.09% 100% Completion Time
91.82% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 79.09% of students graduating from Soka University of America completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 34% male / 66% female
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 67% male / 33% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Soka University of America.
Return on Investment
$15,650 Median Student Debt
$55,017 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
28.45% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
653.24% Return on Investment
2.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Soka University of America.
Top Programs by Completions
2 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 3 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 87 completions
2. Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 6 completions
Most popular programs at Soka University of America.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Soka University of America graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Soka University of America from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 76.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,313
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $45,356
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Soka University of America is a private non-profit institution located in Aliso Viejo, CA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Educational Leadership and Administration, General. Enrollment is approximately 484 students. Student body composition includes Non-Resident Alien (55.4%), Hispanic or Latino (14.1%), White (11.8%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 43.38%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1440. The 150%-time completion rate is 91.82%. Approximately 20.43% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-8081
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 91.82% graduation rate, Soka University of America demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Soka University of America located?
Soka University of America is located in Aliso Viejo, CA.
What is Soka University of America's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Soka University of America is 43.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 397 applicants and 276 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Soka University of America cost?
Reported tuition is $38,728 and average net price is $18,260 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,378 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Soka University of America?
Soka University of America reports undergraduate enrollment of about 488 students, Non-Resident Alien (55.4%), Hispanic or Latino (14.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What test scores do students need for Soka University of America?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Soka University of America reports midpoint SAT about 1440 and midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of Soka University of America earn?
Median earnings are $42,696 six years after entry and $55,017 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Soka University of America?
The 150%-time completion rate is 91.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Soka University of America students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $15,650.
Is Soka University of America public or private?
Soka University of America is a private nonprofit institution located in Aliso Viejo, CA.
Is Soka University of America an HBCU?
No. Soka University of America is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Soka University of America a tribal college?
No. Soka University of America is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Soka University of America a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Soka University of America does not meet that proxy (reported share 14.1%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.