Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Los Angeles, California. It enrolls 236 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarTrimester
How It Measures Up
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes80
Value8
Affordability12
Selectivity49
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Southern California Institute of Architecture admits 76.6% of applicants, which makes it open to most qualified applicants, so admission is unlikely to be the hurdle.
Acceptance Rate
76.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southern California Institute of Architecture is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $43,923 a year on average, it sits above what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. That is a serious number, so the earnings further down matter more here than usual. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$56,162
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,600
Books & Supplies
$1,700
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,612
Application fee: $85 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$36,824
$30,001 – $48,000
$38,430
$48,001 – $75,000
$66,362
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$17,00025%percentile
$44,50075%percentile
What this means:
21% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
87% come back after first year. Students who arrive tend to stay, which is usually a good sign. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $71,909 a year, above the national median. That is a healthy return for most cost levels. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$71,909
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.6 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 236 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
236
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
International 45.8%108
Hispanic 17.0%40
White 17.0%40
Asian 13.1%31
Other 4.2%10
Black 3.0%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern California Institute of Architecture. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Southern California Institute of Architecture offers
a focused set of programs:
6 distinct programs across
4 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
There are 9 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$66M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$83,525
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
43 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
43
100%
$83,525
Pros & Cons of Southern California Institute of Architecture
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Southern California Institute of Architecture is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern California Institute of Architecture is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern California Institute of Architecture
The questions families ask most about Southern California Institute of Architecture, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture hard to get into?
Not especially. Southern California Institute of Architecture admits most qualified applicants, with an acceptance rate of 76.6%. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
76.6% of applicants are admitted. Most applicants who meet the basic requirements are admitted. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
How much does Southern California Institute of Architecture cost?
Budget around $43,923 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $71,909 a year against a net price of $43,923, about 1.6 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern California Institute of Architecture known for?
Mostly Architectural Sciences and Technology, Architectural Sciences and Technology, Graphic Communications. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Southern California Institute of Architecture graduates earn?
About $71,909 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture accredited?
Yes. Southern California Institute of Architecture is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Southern California Institute of Architecture?
236 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Southern California Institute of Architecture a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Southern California Institute of Architecture located?
Southern California Institute of Architecture is located in Los Angeles, California.
What programs does Southern California Institute of Architecture offer?
6 different programs, most commonly Architectural Sciences and Technology, Architectural Sciences and Technology, Graphic Communications. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
9 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in California
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