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Southern California Institute of Architecture

Los Angeles, CA·Private nonprofit·236 students
Last updated: March 21, 2026

A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. median debt is moderately high; earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. a private nonprofit school with 236 students.

83%
Accept
236
Students
$37,535
Net Price
70%
Grad Rate
$44,200
Earnings
10 yr
$33,250
Debt

About This School

Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private nonprofit institution located in Los Angeles, California with approximately 236 undergraduate students enrolled. Southern California Institute of Architecture has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 83%. The average net price after financial aid is $37,535 per year. The graduation rate is 70%, and the typical graduate earns $44,200 within 10 years of enrollment.

The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) is a private Architecture school in the in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1972, SCI-Arc was initially regarded as both institutionally and artistically avant-garde. It currently enrolls approximately 600 students and employs 80 faculty members, some of whom are professional architects. The school is located in the quarter-mile long (0.40 km) former Santa Fe Freight Depot in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. SCI-Arc also offers community events, such as outreach programs, free exhibitions, and public lectures.

The numbers tell a mixed story here: while the intimate 236-student environment and focus on architecture offer a genuinely specialized experience, graduates earn a median of just $44,200 ten years out while carrying $33,250 in debt — a tight margin that warrants serious thought about your long-term financial plan. The 70% graduation rate also means roughly 3 in 10 students don't finish, so this is worth considering only if you're deeply committed to architecture as a career and have a clear-eyed plan for managing the cost.

Founded
1972
Setting
Large city

Notable Alumni

Thom MayneShigeru Ban

Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.

Admissions

SAT Scores

Average CompositeN/A

ACT Scores

Midpoint CompositeN/A

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$53,564
Out-of-State Tuition
$53,564
Avg Net Price
$37,535
after aid

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants21%
Median debt at graduation$33,250

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
70%
within 6 years
Retention Rate
82%
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
$44,200
after enrollment
Median Debt
$33,250
at graduation

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
$33,250
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
$45,300
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
$44,200
after enrollment
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio: 1.3x

Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White15%
Black2%
Hispanic/Latino13%
Asian12%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (236 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

Southern California Institute of Architecture

960 E. 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013-1822

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Other Schools in California

Browse all California schools →

Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
Trademarks

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