Soka University of America
Soka University of America is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Aliso Viejo, California, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with five concentrations and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change. It serves undergraduate and graduate students through a 7:1 faculty ratio, mandatory study abroad, and need-based tuition aid.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersAliso Viejo, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Soka University of America does
Soka University of America is a private nonprofit liberal arts university headquartered at 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, California. Founded in 2001 (with a firmographic founding reference of 1994 for the broader Soka education system) and celebrating its 25th anniversary in Aliso Viejo in 2026, the institution enrolls undergraduate students in a single Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with five concentration areas (Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences), plus graduate students in a two-year M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change. The undergraduate experience is defined by small classes averaging 12 students, a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, a mandatory semester-long study abroad component at no additional cost in Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish, and a student body drawn from 40+ nations across six continents. The university fields 11 NAIA varsity sports with one in five students competing as athletes, houses students in 10 residence halls, and offers career development services including a Bridges to Business entrepreneurship program.
The university's revenue model is tuition-based, anchored by the Soka Opportunity Plan, which provides full tuition coverage for families earning under $90,000 annually and significant financial aid for families earning up to $300,000. Revenue streams include undergraduate tuition, graduate tuition, NAIA athletic scholarships and programs, and federal Title IV financial aid participation (Pell Grants, Direct Loans, state aid). Marketing is conducted through the institutional website (Drupal-based), social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), campus visits, and earned media. The technology footprint is conventional for higher education: an Information Technology Services department, no mobile applications, no public API or SDK, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.
Soka University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, is a member of NAICU, ACC&U, and AICCU, and belongs to the Pacific Alliance of Liberal Arts Colleges alongside institutions such as Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU). Recent strategic moves include the May 2026 announcement of exclusive negotiations with Middlebury College to purchase a Monterey campus and the April 2026 launch of the inaugural BNBU-Soka Joint University Forum on Sustainable Development. The institution operates with no parent company, no equity investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A history, consistent with its nonprofit, endowment-supported structure.
Soka University of America firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soka University of America
- Legal name
- Soka University of America
- Website
- http://www.soka.edu/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Soka University of America is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Aliso Viejo, California, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with five concentrations and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change. It serves undergraduate and graduate students through a 7:1 faculty ratio, mandatory study abroad, and need-based tuition aid.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Soka University of America industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH), Selective/Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAJ)
Keywords
Where Soka University of America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aliso Viejo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Soka University of America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition revenue from undergraduate liberal arts degree program with integrated financial aid packages based on family income levels.
- Graduate Tuition: Revenue from Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Societal Change two-year graduate program.
- Athletic Programs: Revenue generation through athletic scholarships and NAIA sports programs, with one in five students competing as varsity athletes.
- Federal and State Financial Aid: Institutional participation in Title IV federal financial aid programs including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and state aid programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full tuition coverage for income under $90k |
| Subscription | Annual | Significant aid for families earning up to $300k |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Soka University of America product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soka University of America delivers residential undergraduate liberal arts education through a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, paired with mandatory funded study abroad. It also offers a graduate M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change, supported by 11 NAIA varsity sports, a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, and the need-based Soka Opportunity Plan that covers full tuition for families earning under $90,000.
Product overview
Soka University of America is a liberal arts college offering a single undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts) with five concentrations (Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences), and one graduate degree (M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change). The undergraduate program includes a mandatory semester-long study abroad component at no additional cost. The institution also provides financial aid through the Soka Opportunity Plan, competes in 11 NAIA sports, and offers career development services including the Bridges to Business program. Small class sizes (average of 12) and a 7:1 student-faculty ratio characterize the educational experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (Undergraduate)
Quantifiable outcome
- 87,800 kilograms of carbon dioxide saved through student sustainability initiatives
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Soka University of America
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Soka University of America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Soka University of America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU)coreSoka University and BNBU established the 1st BNBU-Soka Joint University Forum on Sustainable Development. BNBU is China's first liberal arts college. Six Soka students participated in the inaugural forum held at BNBU's Institute for Advanced Study in Zhuhai, China, presenting research on environmental topics. Travel was sponsored by the Soka Institute for Global Solutions. The forum will alternate annually between institutions.
- Bon AppétitminorSoka University partners with Bon Appétit for campus dining services, providing a dining program built around quality and global palates for students, faculty, and staff.
- Soka Institute for Global Solutions (SIGS)coreThe Soka Institute for Global Solutions (SIGS) organizes academic forums and research initiatives including the joint sustainability forum with BNBU. SIGS sponsors student travel to international academic events to ensure cost is not a barrier to participation.
- Pacific Alliance of Liberal Arts CollegescoreSoka University is a member of the Pacific Alliance of Liberal Arts Colleges, a network of liberal arts institutions in the Pacific region that includes BNBU as China's first liberal arts college. The alliance supports whole-person education and global citizenship initiatives.
- WASC Senior College and University CommissioncoreWASC Senior College and University Commission is the accrediting body for Soka University of America, located at 1080 Marina Village Parkway, #500, Alameda, CA 94501. Accreditation ensures institutional quality and federal financial aid eligibility.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Soka University of America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harvey Mudd College: STEM-focused residential liberal arts college within the Claremont Consortium; comparable in scale and selectivity but offers narrower STEM-heavy curricula.
- Pomona College: Highly selective residential liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Directly comparable to SUA in size, mission, and California residential liberal arts positioning, though it offers multiple majors rather than a single degree.
- Claremont McKenna College: Residential liberal arts college within the Claremont Consortium, comparable to SUA in scale, selectivity, and California residential liberal arts profile, with a stronger pre-professional orientation.
- Middlebury College: Highly selective residential liberal arts college renowned for its language programs and study abroad culture, the closest analog to SUA's mandatory semester abroad and language focus; currently in exclusive negotiations to sell its Monterey campus to SUA.
- Occidental College: Small, residential liberal arts college in Los Angeles with similar scale, small class sizes, and emphasis on undergraduate research and global engagement.
- Scripps College: Residential liberal arts college in the Claremont Consortium with comparable enrollment scale and small-class liberal arts model.
- Pitzer College: Claremont Consortium liberal arts college with similar size and a social justice / intercultural emphasis that parallels SUA's global-citizenship positioning.
- Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU): Pacific Alliance of Liberal Arts Colleges member and China's first liberal arts university; established a joint forum with SUA in 2026 and is the most direct international institutional peer.
Regional players
- University of Redlands: Private Southern California university offering liberal arts and professional programs with a smaller, more regional footprint; comparable mission but broader program mix than SUA.
Broad incumbents
- Chapman University: Larger private university also based in Orange County, California, with a broad portfolio that includes liberal arts; competes for the same regional applicant pool as SUA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Soka University of America social profiles
Digital presenceSoka University of America compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Soka University of America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soka University of America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Soka University of America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soka University of America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Soka University of America
What does Soka University of America do?
Soka University of America delivers residential undergraduate liberal arts education through a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, paired with mandatory funded study abroad. It also offers a graduate M.A. in Educational Leadership and Societal Change, supported by 11 NAIA varsity sports, a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, and the need-based Soka Opportunity Plan that covers full tuition for families earning under $90,000.
Is Soka University of America a public or private company?
Soka University of America is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Soka University of America founded?
Soka University of America was founded in 1994. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Soka University of America based?
Soka University of America is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Soka University of America make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are graduate Tuition, athletic Programs and federal and State Financial Aid.
Who are Soka University of America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Middlebury College, Occidental College, Scripps College, Pitzer College and Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU). University of Redlands is listed as a regional player. Chapman University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Soka University of America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Soka University of America.
What industry is Soka University of America in?
Soka University of America's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAA, General Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHACAH, Residential Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.