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Aliso Viejo , CA
Soka University of America (SUA) is a private, liberal arts college located in Aliso Viejo, California. Established in 2001, SUA is affiliated with the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist lay organization. The university aims to foster global citizens who will contribute to society through a comprehensive education that integrates the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
SUA follows a unique educational philosophy grounded in the principles of humanistic education, peace, and global citizenship. The curriculum centers around the Four CÆs: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, ask challenging questions, and engage in dialogue with diverse perspectives. The university's core curriculum includes courses in social justice, environmental stewardship, and ethical leadership, providing students with a well-rounded education that recognizes the interconnectedness of global issues.
The campus of Soka University of America is renowned for its striking architecture and beautiful landscape, with a central courtyard surrounded by academic buildings. The university also offers various extracurricular activities, including student-led clubs, sports teams, and cultural events that promote diversity and foster a sense of community. SUA prioritizes multiculturalism and international understanding, attracting a diverse student body from around the world. With its emphasis on global citizenship and commitment to peace, Soka University of America provides a nurturing environment for students to develop intellectually, socially, and ethically.
Soka University of America is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Aliso Viejo, CA and set in a suburban environment. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 43%. The freshman retention rate at Soka University of America is 90% and the six-year graduation rate is 92%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about Soka University of America.
Quick Facts
$37,006
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
92%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Check out some relevant data about admission at Soka University of America.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 277 in 2024. Soka University of America has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. This prominent school with a rich history offers an unmatched learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 16% and ACT scores 1%. 70% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 15% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 15% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 50, 25 between 24-29 and 25 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 27 and the average GPA was 3.6. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 607 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 692.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is January 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Soka University of America was 90%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 92%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate. In 2024, the school enrolled 0 students.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Soka University of America that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Soka University of America? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2024 was $37,006 for full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $2,530 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,088 for books and supplies during their time at Soka University of America.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Soka University of America was $15,384 in 2024. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $15,219.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 37,006 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,384 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,088 |
| Total Expense | $ 53,478 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Soka University of America, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 113 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $49,073.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 406 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Soka University of America is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 433. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $668,637, and state $188,220.
$5,291
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
433 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 113 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $5,475,553. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $98,357 USD.
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2024, this ratio at Soka University of America was 7:1. That means that there were 7 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 89 faculty members. This number included 43 male and 46 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Soka University of America.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Soka University of America is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about campus life at Soka University of America.
It has a campus size of 103 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 31. 70 percent of male and 70 of female students are active in different organizations at Soka University of America. The most popular student organization is Soul Wings (Choir), followed by Ka Pilina Ho'olokahi (Hawaiian Dance Club) and Sualseros (Salsa Dance Club). Other popular student organizations at this school are Rhythmission (Hip Hop Dance Club) and Josho Daiko (Japanese Drum Club).
If you are interested in music, you can join the Soka University of America band or chorus. For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. You have a passion for media and communication? Soka University of America publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
Soka University of America provides a number of services necessary for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Soka University of America is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Soka University of America.
Career Counselling
At Soka University of America, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Soka University of America is located in Aliso Viejo, CA.
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Soka University of America offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Soka University of America is 37,006 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Soka University of America is 43%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Soka University of America is 90%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.