Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, California · Private Nonprofit · 43.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Soka University of America scores 67 (Fair Value). The school's standout metrics are its 91.8% completion rate and a median debt of $15,650. Against that, average 6-year earnings of $32,200 are low, and the 10.6-year payback is long. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.486 is acceptable given the low borrowing. Soka graduates primarily in Liberal Arts and Sciences - the only program in the Scorecard data - and the near-term earnings of $19,776 at year one are very low, though the four-year figure rises to $52,896. Note: repayment rate data is imputed (incomplete), so the ROI score carries that caveat.
Soka University of America
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,728/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,728/yr |
| Average net price | $18,260/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $73,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,017 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,650 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $166 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 484 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $38,728/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,260/year, or roughly $73,040 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,020/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,940/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,650, which works out to about $166 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,200) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,020 net per year - about $48,000 over four years. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $10,619, which is even lower. At $15,650 median debt and a 91.8% completion rate, low-income graduates who enter well-paying careers after graduate school will have manageable debt. The year-one earnings risk is real for graduates who do not proceed to graduate school.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $12,049 net per year and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $12,724 - a tight, flat range suggesting a consistent aid model. The question is whether the single liberal arts degree with low near-term earnings justifies even this modest investment without a clear post-graduation plan.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,940 net per year - about $124,000 over four years. This is significantly higher than lower-income brackets and marks a sharp step up in the aid schedule. At $32,200 average earnings, the full higher-income net price at Soka produces a very long payback period. High-income families choosing Soka should be prepared for the financial reality that near-term earnings will lag significantly.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Soka University of America with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $52,896 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences is the only program at Soka, and all 98 reported graduates pursue this degree. Year-one earnings of $19,776 are very low - suggesting many graduates defer employment for graduate school or fellowships immediately after graduation. The four-year figure rises to $52,896, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.948 (ROI grade D) with $18,750 median debt is elevated, though borrowing is low. The year-one earnings figure likely underrepresents the long-run trajectory for the high share of Soka graduates who proceed to competitive graduate programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Soka University of America’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 43.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 713-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 620-720 |
| Enrollment | 484 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,313 |
A 43.4% acceptance rate with SAT 713-790 Math makes Soka moderately selective. The academic profile is strong relative to school size. Soka's global studies orientation and international student body create an unusual campus culture; admission selects for students who are actively seeking that environment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Soka's ROI of 67 is carried primarily by its exceptional completion rate and low debt; the earnings data is the drag.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soka University of America (this school) | 67 | $18,260 | $55,017 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 66 | $24,204 | $63,582 |
| College of Saint Mary | 59 | $16,590 | $54,338 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Washington Adventist University | 55 | $18,526 | $64,249 |
Who Thrives Here
Soka admits 43.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 713-790 Math and 620-720 Reading - competitive for a liberal arts college. The 484-student enrollment is exceptionally small, creating an intimate campus environment. Soka is a specialized institution; it awards a single degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and maintains a required study abroad program. Students who are drawn to this specific philosophy-driven liberal arts model and can demonstrate the academic profile to gain admission may find the complete-and-low-debt combination compelling. Students who need program breadth, technical degrees, or strong professional-school placement pipelines should look at broader institutions.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Soka University of America is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,260 a year after aid ($73,040 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,017 a decade out, the cost takes about 10.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 91.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $15,650 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Soka University of America: Common Questions
Is Soka University of America worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Soka University of America is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 67/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,260 a year after aid ($73,040 over four years) against $55,017 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 10.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Soka University of America cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,260 a year, or roughly $73,040 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Soka University of America graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,017 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,217 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Soka University of America?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.6 years for Soka University of America. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Soka University of America graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,650, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Soka University of America?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.