Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-8081
About Soka University of America
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 findings
- Soka University of America charges 32% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($38,728).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 4.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 91.82%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $55,017.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at Soka University of America is about 53% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $38,728; average net price is $18,260 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Soka University of America is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 653% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soka University of America | $38,728 | $18,260 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| 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 53% below published tuition at Soka University of America
Key findings
- Soka University of America's average net price ($18,260) is 53% below published tuition ($38,728).
- Soka University of America charges 32% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($38,728).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 4.8×.
Soka University of America tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $38,728
Finding Soka University of America charges 32% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $38,728. That is 32% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 4.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.3×.
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 Soka University of America versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Soka University of America versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Soka University of America is $18,260.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $18,260 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $9,917 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $440 below 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 Soka University of America’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 53% lower after grants and scholarships.
Soka University of America: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Soka University of America—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$38,728
Avg. net price
$18,260
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. 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 Soka University of America is known for
Top program completions
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 46% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1440
- Midpoint ACT: 26
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Soka University of America a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Soka University of America is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 53% lower in this extract).
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 Soka University of America.
Campus
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 92656-8081
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 2% below the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Size
Enrollment
484
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 488
- Graduate
- 11
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$15,650
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 20.43%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Soka University of America.
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 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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1440 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 26 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.80
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
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
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
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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Soka University of America graduates earn a median of $55,017 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Soka University of America.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $55,017. Median federal loan debt: $15,650. Average net price used in cost models: $18,260.
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 Soka University of America graduates report median earnings of $55,017 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 Soka University of America.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 2 programs by IPEDS completions (3 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Soka University of America.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Soka University of America graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Soka University of America—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$1.44B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 73× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 86× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 55× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 400× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 408× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 245× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 76.9%
- California median 37.6 pp above median (39.3%)
- Far West median 31.2 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 19.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $13,313
- California median 1.3× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.4× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.7× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $45,356
- California median 7.0× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 6.5× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 6.2× 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.
Soka University of America at a glance
Soka University of America
Soka University of America is a private non-profit institution in Aliso Viejo, CA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesEducational Leadership and Administration, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Non-Resident Alien55.4%Hispanic or Latino14.1%White or Caucasian11.8%
Schools near Soka University of America
Other campuses in Aliso Viejo, 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 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.
What is Soka University of America's tuition?
Soka University of America tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $38,728 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $18,260 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
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.
Why is Soka University of America's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Soka University of America, published tuition is $38,728 while average net price is $18,260—about 53% 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 Soka University of America's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($18,260), completion (91.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($55,017). 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 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.
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.