Colleges › California › Soka University of America

Soka University of America

Soka University of America is a private campus in suburban Aliso Viejo, CA. International students are a visible presence at Soka University of America — 55.4% of its 484 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

Compare this school Find colleges

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$14,587

family income
under $30k

$9,183

$30–48k

$9,378

$48–75k

$12,566

$75–110k

$32,663

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$18,2602023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Soka University of America rose from $16,013 (2008) to $18,260 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$16,013
2009	$16,589
2010	$14,737
2011	$11,767
2012	$10,450
2013	$12,208
2014	$5,782
2015	$14,061
2016	$13,854
2017	$15,635
2018	$13,914
2019	$19,843
2020	$11,846
2021	$21,267
2022	$21,446
2023	$18,260

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$55,0642024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Soka University of America rose from $35,680 (2009) to $55,064 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$35,680
2010	$37,212
2011	$38,342
2012	$39,848
2013	$40,842
2014	$42,076
2015	$44,550
2016	$44,800
2017	$45,592
2018	$47,368
2019	$48,996
2020	$50,968
2021	$39,206
2022	$51,096
2023	$52,758
2024	$55,064

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2004	$18,562
2005	$19,675
2006	$20,856
2007	$22,108
2008	$23,434
2013	$29,144
2014	$30,214
2015	$30,642
2016	$31,042
2017	$31,776
2018	$33,146
2019	$33,982
2020	$33,962
2021	$34,166
2022	$35,544
2023	$37,450

IPEDS Published price 2004–05 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $38,728 before grants and other attendance costs. At Soka University of America, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Enrollment sits at 484 — Soka University of America is one of the smaller campuses on this site.

91.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Soka University of America within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

91.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Soka University of America has held near 91.8% from Fall 2001 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
2001 cohort	85%
2002 cohort	94.2%
2003 cohort	93.5%
2004 cohort	87.8%
2005 cohort	87.2%
2006 cohort	91.8%
2007 cohort	84.2%
2008 cohort	78.7%
2009 cohort	85.7%
2010 cohort	90.3%
2011 cohort	93.6%
2012 cohort	90.3%
2013 cohort	89.4%
2014 cohort	87%
2015 cohort	90.5%
2016 cohort	87.5%
2017 cohort	86.9%
2018 cohort	91.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 2001–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$6,750	—
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$11,000	$3,375
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,500	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,500	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,313	$7,938
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$18,500	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$19,000	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,867	$12,000
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,000	—
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$22,289	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,500	$10,697
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,488	$10,183
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$19,435	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$18,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$15,650	—

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$42,696

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$48,195

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$55,017

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Soka University of America admitted 275 of 634 applicants in Fall 2024. The 43.4% rate describes that application pool.

43.4%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $37,450 tuition · 2023–24 484 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1333–15101600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Soka University of America received 634 applications and admitted 275 (43.4%), with 126 enrolling.

Soka University of America reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Soka University of America’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 620–720 and Math was 713–790 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1333–1510 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	620	675	720
SAT Math	713	765	790

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

43.4%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2004	46.4%
Fall 2005	42.6%
Fall 2006	39.3%
Fall 2007	53.7%
Fall 2008	51.8%
Fall 2009	73.6%
Fall 2010	32.3%
Fall 2011	34.5%
Fall 2012	45.8%
Fall 2013	43.4%
Fall 2014	43.5%
Fall 2015	46.1%
Fall 2016	38.4%
Fall 2017	37.2%
Fall 2018	39%
Fall 2019	40.1%
Fall 2020	52%
Fall 2021	52.4%
Fall 2022	56.6%
Fall 2023	69.5%
Fall 2024	43.4%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2004–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1333–1510Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2005	1000	1270
Fall 2006	938	1371
Fall 2007	1030	1420
Fall 2008	956	1378
Fall 2009	1080	1350
Fall 2010	1033	1288
Fall 2011	1013	1300
Fall 2012	1080	1340
Fall 2013	1080	1340
Fall 2014	1090	1370
Fall 2015	1070	1390
Fall 2016	1070	1370
Fall 2017	1200	1390
Fall 2018	1180	1410
Fall 2019	1240	1430
Fall 2020	1180	1410
Fall 2021	1205	1400
Fall 2022	1240	1440
Fall 2023	1220	1460
Fall 2024	1333	1510

IPEDS Fall 2005–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

24–28Fall 2021 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2007	18	29
Fall 2009	24	30
Fall 2010	22	29
Fall 2011	23	27
Fall 2012	24	28
Fall 2013	25	29
Fall 2014	24	29
Fall 2015	24	30
Fall 2016	26	30
Fall 2017	27	31
Fall 2018	25	30
Fall 2019	26	32
Fall 2020	26	32
Fall 2021	24	28

IPEDS Fall 2007–2021, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

484Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Soka University of America rose from 282 (Fall 2003) to 484 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2003	282
Fall 2004	372
Fall 2005	360
Fall 2006	354
Fall 2007	362
Fall 2008	378
Fall 2009	431
Fall 2010	438
Fall 2011	438
Fall 2012	435
Fall 2013	412
Fall 2014	411
Fall 2015	432
Fall 2016	417
Fall 2017	412
Fall 2018	428
Fall 2019	406
Fall 2020	392
Fall 2021	435
Fall 2022	445
Fall 2023	464
Fall 2024	484

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2003–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

90%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Soka University of America has held near 90% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	94%
Fall 2003 cohort	96%
Fall 2004 cohort	94%
Fall 2005 cohort	94%
Fall 2006 cohort	96%
Fall 2007 cohort	91%
Fall 2008 cohort	90%
Fall 2009 cohort	96%
Fall 2010 cohort	94%
Fall 2011 cohort	99%
Fall 2012 cohort	96%
Fall 2013 cohort	96%
Fall 2014 cohort	93%
Fall 2015 cohort	94%
Fall 2016 cohort	94%
Fall 2017 cohort	92%
Fall 2018 cohort	94%
Fall 2019 cohort	92%
Fall 2020 cohort	94%
Fall 2021 cohort	93%
Fall 2022 cohort	92%
Fall 2023 cohort	90%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Soka University of America

20.4% of Soka University of America's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Soka University of America as a primarily residential campus of 484 undergraduates — and 90.5% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Soka University of America's SAT section-percentile sums are 1333–1510 — their midpoint is above the CA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Soka University of America's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Soka University of America compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Soka University of America43.4%

California median74.4%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Soka University of America$38,728

California median$23,000

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Soka University of America's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Soka University of America$55,017

California median$64,778

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Soka University of America, California and national reference values
Metric & basis	Soka University of America	California median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	43.4%	74.4%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$38,728	$23,000	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$55,017	$64,778	$53,781

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Soka University of America report?

Soka University of America's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1333–1510 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Soka University of America's acceptance rate?

43.4% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 275 admitted from 634 applicants.

How much does Soka University of America cost?

At Soka University of America, tuition is $38,728. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Soka University of America report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $55,017. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in California

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary — 40.7% admitted
Gnomon — 41.8% admitted
The Chicago School at Los Angeles — 46.3% admitted
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary — 58.2% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Read the date and population definitions.