Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #1442 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,456, placing Southern California Institute of Architecture in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #643 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #1442 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate outcomes relative to cost paid. These results span graduates pursuing careers in architecture, design, and related fields.
Southern California Institute of Architecture's published cost of attendance is $71,612. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $36,824, while middle-income families pay around $66,362. Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #1414 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, though at SCI-Arc the gap between sticker and net price varies by income band. Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA and CSS Profile. SCI-Arc participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For families using Parent PLUS, median borrowing is $55,274; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,456, monthly debt service and personalized affordability projections depend on individual borrowing choices and program path. For scenario-specific affordability — including Parent PLUS planning and personalized monthly-payment projections across earnings scenarios — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southern California Institute of Architecture is a strong fit for students passionate about architecture who want a private nonprofit college experience in Los Angeles, CA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,456, placing Southern California Institute of Architecture in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #1442 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a notable share of Pell-eligible students — 21.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — and delivers outcomes that place it in the 56.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 76.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors architecture-focused fields over broader liberal arts. Students whose interests align with architecture and who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings outcomes in CA's competitive labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Southern California Institute Of Architecture hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #1442 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private specialized institution in Los Angeles, CA, Southern California Institute of Architecture enrolls roughly 236 undergraduates and focuses on architecture and design education. The six-year graduation rate is 71.4%, reflecting the institution's commitment to degree completion in a field-specific curriculum. Where Southern California Institute of Architecture performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #643 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,456, reflecting strong early-career outcomes in architecture and related design fields. The institution's specialized focus on Architecture creates a clear pathway into a profession with established salary progression and long-term earning potential. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Southern California Institute of Architecture sits in the 2.6 percentile for access and the 0.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 21.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, reflecting the institution's limited enrollment of low-income students — a pattern common among specialized private institutions with higher sticker prices. The institution's value proposition centers on the earnings premium graduates achieve in architecture and design careers rather than on broad-access affordability.
Southern California Institute of Architecture is a specialized architecture school where the program portfolio concentrates almost entirely on design-focused disciplines. Architecture is the dominant program family, with the institution's curriculum built around intensive studio-based learning in architectural design, urban planning, and related design fields.
Across 1 programs serving roughly 41 students annually, the school maintains a focused mission centered on design education and practice-oriented training. The program structure reflects Southern California Institute of Architecture's identity as a design-intensive institution rather than a broad research university.
Students engage in hands-on studio work, design competitions, and real-world project engagement that characterize architecture and design education. This concentrated portfolio means that program-level earnings outcomes and rankings reflect the specific labor-market dynamics of design and architecture fields, where early-career compensation varies significantly based on market conditions, geographic location, and individual firm placement.
For students committed to architecture or design careers, Southern California Institute of Architecture offers the depth and specialization that comes from an institution built entirely around these disciplines. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides useful context for understanding how architecture and design fields align with national labor-market trends and regional economic conditions, particularly in Los Angeles's strong design and creative industries ecosystem.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. John's College Similar quality tier (#36238 ranked) | MD | 55% | $51,584 | #36238 | Compare |
The Juilliard School Similar quality tier (#36227 ranked) | NY | 9% | $37,827 | #36227 | Compare |
Art Academy Of Cincinnati Similar quality tier (#36241 ranked) | OH | 34% | $34,368 | #36241 | Compare |
Cleveland Institute Of Music Similar quality tier (#36222 ranked) | OH | 47% | $32,641 | #36222 | Compare |
Florida College Similar quality tier (#36245 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,445 | #36245 | Compare |
Southern California Institute of Architecture's published cost of attendance is $71,612. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $36,824, while middle-income families pay around $66,362.
Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #1414 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), though at SCI-Arc the gap between sticker and net price varies by income band.
Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA and CSS Profile. SCI-Arc participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
For families using Parent PLUS, median borrowing is $55,274; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,456, monthly debt service and personalized affordability projections depend on individual borrowing choices and program path. For scenario-specific affordability — including Parent PLUS planning and personalized monthly-payment projections across earnings scenarios — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Southern California Institute of Architecture earn median 4-year earnings of $73,456, placing the institution in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern California Institute of Architecture #643 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The institution's earnings trajectory reflects a specialized architecture-focused curriculum that channels graduates directly into a defined professional field with clear credential pathways and established employer networks. Architecture is the dominant program family, representing the core of Southern California Institute of Architecture's degree output and anchoring the institution's economic profile.
Graduates in this field move into professional practice roles where licensure and experience accumulate over the early career years, supporting sustained earnings growth. The concentrated program portfolio means outcomes are tightly aligned with architecture-sector labor-market conditions and hiring patterns in CA, where the institution's regional presence and alumni networks are strongest.
