Soka University of America is a private, nonprofit, liberal arts university founded upon the buddhist principle of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life. The school has ranked among the top 30 liberal arts colleges in the USA by US News and World Report and has been accredited by the WSCUC (WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Programs offered at Soka University of America include only one undergraduate degree program in liberal arts and graduate degree program in Educational Leadership and Societal change. International students need to submit academic or professional letters of recommendation, personal essays, statement of purpose along with academic transcripts to be considered for admission at SUA. Prospective international candidates also need to submit a TOEFL-iBT score of 80 proof of proficiency in English.
The average tuition fee at SUA is 32,000 USD. The school also extends several scholarships and grants to overseas students on the basis of academic achievement to ease the financial burden. Students can also consider opting for financial aid like the fulbright scholarship program for India.
Soka University of America Rankings
- #28 in National Liberal Arts Colleges, #6 in Best Value Schools and #26 in Top Performers on Social Mobility by US News and World REport
- Ranked #2 in Best Colleges for Your Money-Nationwide by Collegefactual.com
- Best in California for Study Abroad 2023 by intelligent.com
Highlights
| Type of University | Private |
| Faculty Members | 68 |
| Number of Undergraduate Seats | 406 |
| Percentage of International Student | 55% |
| Annual Acceptance Rate | 51% |
| Basic Tuition Fee for International Undergraduate Students | 32,250 USD |
| Test Scores Accepted | TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, ACT |
| Official Website | www.soka.edu |
| Graduation Rate | 85% |
| Employment rate | |
| Application fees | 30-45 USD |
Soka University of America Campus and Accomodation
SUA provides their students with ample opportunities to become active members of the campus through student organizations, student activities, and athletics.
- The Student Activities team provides students with opportunities to engage with both on-campus and off-campus communities through sponsored occasions and outings.
- Student clubs and organizations are a necessary and exciting part of student life. Soka University of America campus has a wide assortment of clubs from dance groups to social and environmental justice groups, athletics club as well as Soka Student union.
- SUA students also actively participate in several collegiate level sports in cross-country, swimming and diving, track and field, soccer, and women’s golf. There's also a state-of-the-art recreation center on the campus.
Soka University of America Accommodation
As a residential campus, Soka University of America offers on-campus housing for both graduate and undergraduate students.
- Sunset and Sunrise Halls are for first year undergraduate students who live in double occupancy rooms.
- For continuing undergraduates, suite style rooms are provided with a private bedroom for each and shared bathroom. Roommates can be selected upon request or are provided based on lifestyle compatibility.
- Suite Style rooms for graduate students are located on the fourth floor of Umoja Hall. However, graduates can also choose to opt for other off-campus student housing in the US.
- All the rooms come with a twin extra-long-sized bed, extra-long twin mattress, desk, hutch/bookshelf, chair, wardrobe closet, and Cisco IP phone, trash can, recycle bin, plunger, and emergency flashlight etc.
Soka University Residence halls provide a dynamic living and learning environment by allowing students to share their intellectual and educational goals and grow through community engagement, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction within the diverse communities.
Soka University of America Programs
Soka offers a very limited number of undergraduate and graduate courses focused on liberal arts a
- Soka University of America’s Daisaku Ikeda College offers a Bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts. Candidates can choose their concentration in Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, or Social and Behavioral Sciences while pursuing a B.A in Liberal Arts.
- At Soka University of America, undergraduate students are required to study abroad for a semester during their third year. Students will have the option to pursue a program in their chosen language of study.
- Soka University of America also offers special academic programs such as Fulbright Fellowship Advising Program, Accelerated Master’s Degree Program, Graduate Advising and the like.
- Soka University of America offers an MA in Educational leadership and societal change.
- The Soka MA program looks at the broad landscape of modern educational institutions and structures including schools and colleges.This program is inclined towards the Research-Based Leadership, Globally-Minded, Ethically-Oriented Leadership and The Liberal Art of Effective Leadership.
Soka University of America Admissions
International candidates who wish to pursue any course at Soka University of America should apply by Early Action on November 1 and by Regular Admission on January 15.
- Where to apply: Online Application Portal
- Application Fees: 30 USD for online application and 45 USD for offline application
Admission Requirements for Soka University of America
- A completed application form
- Official transcripts or IERF Detailed Report
- English Proficiency test scores
- Two academics letters of recommendation
- Two Personal Essays 500-750 words
- List of Extracurricular Activities
- SAT (1200-1390) or ACT (27-31) Test Scores (Optional for 2023 applicants)
- Resume or CV (for graduate applicants only)
- GRE or MAT (optional for Fall 2023)
- Bachelor’s Degree in the related course
- Statement of purpose(for graduate applicants)
- A sample of academic writing
Soka University of America Cost of Attendance
It is essential for students to know the cost of attendance to prepare a budget for studying in the USA. Accordingly, the table below gives an approximate cost of studying at Soka University of America -
| Expenditures | On campus (USD) | Off Campus (USD) | At Home (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | 32,250 | 32,250 | 32,250 |
| Room & Board | 13,032 | 17,252 | 9,080 |
| Books & Supplies | 1,124 | 1,124 | 1,124 |
| Transportation | 342 | 918 | 998 |
| Personal Expenses (including health insurance fee) | 4,348 | 5,554 | 4,998 |
| Total | 51,096 | 57,098 | 48,440 |
Note: Students applying to Soka University of America are required to pay a health insurance fee of 1,916 USD included in personal expenses in the table above. This fee can be waived for students who have their own health insurance or have coverage under their parent policy. Students who have their own health insurance policy must submit a copy of the insurance waiver form.
Also Know: Benefits of Health Insurance in USA
Soka University of America Scholarships
Almost all Soka first year students receive some kinds of grants and financial aid. Institutional grants and scholarships are mainly funded by the university itself to help their candidates meet the challenge of funding their education at Soka University of America.
All grants and scholarships offered by the university are a gift to the student and do not need to be paid back to SUA. These awards might be merit-based or need-based. The applications for these scholarships will be available from October 1 till March 2nd.
Below are given some of the Soka University scholarships available to all domestic, international, and dreamers who qualify.
- Soka Merit Scholarships: Students with excellent academic achievements are awarded this scholarship upon entrance to Soka University. Eligibility is determined by the Dean based admissions application. Renewable upto eight semesters.
- Soka Ikeda Scholarship: This covers a student’s entire cost of attendance which includes both direct and indirect expenses. It is awarded to one student going into the sophomore class, the junior class, and the senior class for a total of three scholarships per year.
- Soka John D. Montgomery Scholarship: Students for this scholarship are chosen on the basis of academic merit and their record of service that best exemplifies the humanitarian goals and objectives of the university. The recipient of this scholarship is awarded up to 20,000 USD.
- Soka Academic Merit Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to the top three academic students from SUA’s freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. This is a single year scholarship in which students can get 5,000 USD.
Soka University also offers the following financial grants to its students -
- Soka Opportunity Grant: This grant is offered to all students admitted to BA in liberal arts program whose annual family income is less than 60,000 USD or less and who have not graduated from college or completed 3/4th of the coursework towards their first undergraduate degree. The grant will only cover the tuition fee. Students will still have to pay the room and board fee
- Soka Grant - This is a supplemental, need based grant awarded by the office of Financial Aid. The eligibility is determined annually by the Office of Financial Aid based on a student’s financial aid application.
Apart from that, one can also opt for other scholarship options for international students in the USA.
Soka University of America Alumni
The university has around 1,400 alumni networks representing 47 different countries across the globe. Soka University graduates throughout the world are contributing to their respective communities as they pursue diverse careers in several fields such as government, non-profit organizations, finance, education, research, media, and the arts.
Members of the alumni association receive benefits like membership of SOHAKAI association board representation and career counseling.Notable alumni of Soka University of America is Tahereh Mafi who is a best selling author of the New York Times.
Soka University of America Placements
SUA provides their students with on-campus employment opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a working environment which will help them to get jobs after graduation. This includes both university-funded positions and federal work-study positions.
According to Payscale, the average salary of the graduates of Soka University of America can earn around 58,982 USD annually. Salary of SUA graduates based on job role are as follows -
| Job Role | Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Analyst (Finance/Banking) | 56,000 |
| Senior Finance Manager | 110,000 |
| Executive Assistant | 63,000 |
| Program Manager, Non-Profit Organisation | 55,000 |
| Administrative Clerk | 38,000 |
| Software Development Engineer (SDE) | 114,000 |
| Senior UX Designer | 100,000 |
Soka University’s career development services and team also develops employment opportunities for students through partnerships with local, national, regional and international employers. It also organises events such as campus job fairs, recruitment sessions where students can network with potential employers.
FAQs
Ques. What GPA is required for Soka?
Ans. With a GPA of 3.91(95% - 97%), Soka University of America expects you to be at the top of your batch. You'll require nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other students. You ought to likewise have taken plenty of AP or IB classes to show your ability to excel in academic challenges.
Ques. Does Soka University accept transfer students?
Ans. SUA does not have a separate admission process for transfer students. If you are currently a university or college student, you may apply, but you will not be eligible for transfer college credits.
Ques. Does Soka University have application deadlines and an Early Action process?
Ans. Yes, SUA has an application deadline. They do not have an Early Action process. SUA has only one admission period. The application deadline is on February 15th with an admission decision announced on March 22nd. Enrolled students who wish to attend Soka are required to pay a 400 USD non-refundable tuition deposit by May 1.
Ques. Are international applicants required to take the GRE for admission?
Ans. Yes, all the students are required to take the GRE test. Test scores must be sent directly through the testing agency; your Student copies and self-reported scores are not accepted.
Ques. Does Soka University of America require SAT?
Ans. Students must have appeared in either the SAT or ACT test to submit an application to Soka University of America. More importantly, they also need to do well to have a strong application.
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