Southern California Institute of Architecture
Los Angeles, California · Private Nonprofit · 76.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) scores 55 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Scorecard does not report median debt for this institution, so our debt-to-earnings measure gets a neutral middle score of 50 rather than counting the gap as a zero-debt outcome. The Scorecard also does not report median monthly payment. With these critical variables missing, the ROI score has significant uncertainty. What is reported: a $45,300 average 6-year earnings, median $71,909 at 10 years, an 8.6-year payback period, a 71.4% completion rate, and a $43,923 net price on $56,162 sticker tuition. The repayment rate at one year (53.7%) is low - about half of borrowers are not reducing principal within a year of enrollment. The program list is empty in Scorecard program-level data, meaning no program-specific earnings are available.
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $56,162/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $56,162/yr |
| Average net price | $43,923/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $175,692 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,909 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | N/A |
| Estimated payback period | 8.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 236 |
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: $56,162/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $43,923/year, or roughly $175,692 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 $36,824/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The Department of Education does not report a median debt figure for this school, usually because too few students borrow federal loans for the figure to be published. Our ROI score gives this measure a neutral middle value rather than treating it as zero debt.
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 | $36,824 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $38,430 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $66,362 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $36,824 per year at SCI-Arc - a high net price for the lowest-income students. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $38,430. SCI-Arc's aid model leaves very little room for lower-income families. Against $45,300 average 6-year earnings and an 8.6-year payback, low-income students face a difficult financial calculation. The 53.7% one-year repayment rate underscores that many graduates are not in a strong repayment position.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $66,362 per year - dramatically higher than the lower bands, suggesting either an error in the Scorecard data or a sudden drop in aid for this income range. Scorecard does not report net price for the $75,001-$110,000 bracket. Middle-income families should run the institutional net price calculator directly, as the Scorecard figure for this bracket appears anomalous.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Scorecard does not report net price for the $110,001+ bracket at SCI-Arc. With $56,162 sticker tuition and a $43,923 overall average net price, high-income families are likely paying close to or at sticker. Against $45,300 average 6-year earnings and the additional path to architecture licensure, the full-cost case requires long-run career commitment to design practice.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 55.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Southern California Institute of Architecture’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.6% |
| Enrollment | 236 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,192 |
SCI-Arc admits 76.6% of applicants - accessible to most who apply, given the self-selecting nature of architecture school applicants. SAT and ACT ranges are not reported. Portfolio quality is almost certainly a central factor in the admissions process. Prospective students should inquire about portfolio requirements and the school's approach to design education, which differs substantially from conventional university architecture departments.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Institute of Architecture (this school) | 55 | $43,923 | $71,909 |
| Capitol Technology University | 79 | $22,102 | $85,035 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Ner Israel Rabbinical College | 66 | $13,572 | $66,330 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Logan University | 53 | $20,218 | $55,838 |
Who Thrives Here
SCI-Arc admits 76.6% of applicants. SAT and ACT score ranges are not reported in Scorecard data. With 236 undergraduates, the student body is very small. Pell rate of 21.3% indicates some economic diversity. SCI-Arc attracts students who are specifically committed to architecture and design as a career; this is not a school where students explore majors. The 71.4% completion rate and $43,923 net price demand careful financial planning. Students should understand that architecture licensing requires additional post-degree experience beyond the undergraduate degree.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Southern California Institute of Architecture is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $43,923 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $71,909 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 8.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 71.4% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Southern California Institute of Architecture: Common Questions
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Southern California Institute of Architecture scores 55/100 on our ROI scale. At $43,923 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $71,909 ten years after entry, so it takes about 8.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Southern California Institute of Architecture 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 $43,923 a year, or roughly $175,692 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 Southern California Institute of Architecture graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,909 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,109 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 Southern California Institute of Architecture?
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 8.6 years for Southern California Institute of Architecture. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
What is the graduation rate at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.4%, 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.