Southern California Institute of Architecture
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1822
About Southern California Institute of Architecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, enrolling about 236 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 76.60% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $71,909 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Southern California Institute of Architecture charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition ($56,162).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 6.9×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 71.43%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $71,909.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Southern California Institute of Architecture is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 309% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Institute of Architecture | $56,162 | $43,923 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 22% below published tuition at Southern California Institute of Architecture
Key findings
- Southern California Institute of Architecture's average net price ($43,923) is 22% below published tuition ($56,162).
- Southern California Institute of Architecture charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition ($56,162).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 6.9×.
Southern California Institute of Architecture tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $56,162
Finding Southern California Institute of Architecture charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $56,162. That is about 1.9× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 6.9×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 4.7×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Southern California Institute of Architecture versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Southern California Institute of Architecture versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Southern California Institute of Architecture is $43,923.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $43,923 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $35,580 above the California median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $23,870 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Southern California Institute of Architecture’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 22% lower after grants and scholarships.
Southern California Institute of Architecture: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Southern California Institute of Architecture—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$56,162
Avg. net price
$43,923
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $36,824 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $38,430 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $66,362 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $224,648. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Southern California Institute of Architecture is known for
Top program completions
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology164
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects21
- Architectural Technology/Technician9
- City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning7
- Educational Evaluation and Research6
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 7% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Southern California Institute of Architecture is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Campus
Location
Los Angeles, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 90013-1822
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 2.2× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs)
Size
Enrollment
236
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 240
- Graduate
- 181
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 21.34%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Southern California Institute of Architecture 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 Southern California Institute of Architecture 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 | $37,300 | $37,300 | $38,498 |
| 2014 | $40,262 | $40,262 | $46,509 |
| 2015 | $43,334 | $43,334 | $52,073 |
| 2016 | $42,900 | $42,900 | $56,404 |
| 2017 | $43,800 | $43,800 | $55,775 |
| 2018 | $44,960 | $44,960 | $47,287 |
| 2019 | $45,892 | $45,892 | $54,079 |
| 2020 | $49,278 | $49,278 | $49,091 |
| 2021 | $49,016 | $49,016 | $34,522 |
| 2022 | $50,690 | $50,690 | $14,174 |
| 2023 | $53,564 | $53,564 | $37,535 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Southern California Institute of Architecture reported total enrollment of about 236 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 56% male and 44% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Non-Resident Alien (45.8%), White (17.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (17.0%). About 21.34% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southern California Institute of Architecture in 2024 is 236 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 240 students. Graduate enrollment is about 181 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
91.4%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
71.43% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Southern California Institute of Architecture completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology: 60% male / 40% female
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 48% male / 52% female
- Architectural Technology/Technician: 44% male / 56% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Southern California Institute of Architecture graduates earn a median of $71,909 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $71,909. Average net price used in cost models: $43,923.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Southern California Institute of Architecture graduates report median earnings of $71,909 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 6 programs by IPEDS completions (7 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Southern California Institute of Architecture.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Southern California Institute of Architecture graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Southern California Institute of Architecture—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$5.7M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 0.29× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 0.34× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.22× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 1.2× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 1.2× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.71× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 62.5%
- California median 23.2 pp above median (39.3%)
- Far West median 16.8 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 4.5 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,192
- California median 0.90× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median near the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $17,178
- California median 2.7× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 2.4× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 2.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Southern California Institute of Architecture at a glance
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private non-profit institution in Los Angeles, CA, classified as Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Architectural and Building Sciences/TechnologyAnimation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsArchitectural Technology/Technician
- Largest enrollment groups
- Non-Resident Alien45.8%White or Caucasian17.0%Hispanic or Latino17.0%
Schools near Southern California Institute of Architecture
Other campuses in Los Angeles, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southern California Institute of Architecture located?
Southern California Institute of Architecture is located in Los Angeles, CA.
What is Southern California Institute of Architecture's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Southern California Institute of Architecture is 76.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 606 applicants and 501 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Southern California Institute of Architecture's tuition?
Southern California Institute of Architecture tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $56,162 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $43,923 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Southern California Institute of Architecture cost?
Reported tuition is $56,162 and average net price is $43,923 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,600 annually.
Why is Southern California Institute of Architecture's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Southern California Institute of Architecture, published tuition is $56,162 while average net price is $43,923—about 22% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Southern California Institute of Architecture's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($43,923), completion (71.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($71,909). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
Southern California Institute of Architecture reports undergraduate enrollment of about 240 students, Non-Resident Alien (45.8%), White (17.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Southern California Institute of Architecture earn?
Median earnings are $53,274 six years after entry and $71,909 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
The 150%-time completion rate is 71.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture public or private?
Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private nonprofit institution located in Los Angeles, CA.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture an HBCU?
No. Southern California Institute of Architecture is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture a tribal college?
No. Southern California Institute of Architecture is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.