Southern California Institute of Architecture
- Private
Southern California Institute of Architecture: international tuition 56,162 USD per year, one-year total cost 71,612 USD, acceptance rate 76.6%. Merit scholarships are open to international students. Need-based aid is not. Published minimum English scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 92, Duolingo 115.
International first-year students from Vietnam may seek SCI-Arc Admissions Merit-Based Scholarships. Admissions need-based aid is limited to admitted domestic students.
Getting in. The school admits 76.6% of applicants. The SAT range of admitted students is not published. The SAT and ACT are optional: a score counts if you send one, and you can still apply without it. For English, the school asks for IELTS 7+, TOEFL iBT 92+ or Duolingo 115+.
Cost for a year. One year comes to 71,612 USD, before any scholarship. There are 2 scholarships, but none says international students can apply, so nothing is taken off yet.
Deadline and visa. The application deadline for fall is 15/1. You apply through The Common Application. How long the visa takes is up to the consulate; see the country note.
Admissions checked 13/10/2026
What is the tuition at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
International tuition is 56,162 USD per year. The total cost for one year is 71,612 USD.
Does Southern California Institute of Architecture offer scholarships for international students?
Merit scholarships are open to international students. Need-based aid is not. International first-year students from Vietnam may seek SCI-Arc Admissions Merit-Based Scholarships. Admissions need-based aid is limited to admitted domestic students.
What English scores does Southern California Institute of Architecture require?
Published minimum English scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL iBT 92, Duolingo 115.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern California Institute of Architecture?
The acceptance rate is 76.6%.
- Pay in fullYesPay in fullOnce admitted you can enrol straight away — no scholarship decision to wait for.Your family covers all tuition and living costs for every year of the degree.You will need: your application and proof that your family can pay — the school needs it to issue your visa documents.
- Aid with the offerUnclearAid with the offerThe school decides aid while reviewing your application, so any need-based or merit award arrives with the offer.The school has merit scholarships for international students, but does not say whether they are automatic or need their own application.
- Apply separately for scholarshipsUnclearApply separately for scholarshipsOn top of the admission application, you send a separate scholarship application or get nominated.The pages we read mention no scholarship with its own application. Not seeing one does not mean there is none — ask the school.
For Vietnamese students
Vietnamese community nearby
Students on campus lifeiPublic YouTube videos by students and the school, matched to this school's name; Vietnamese videos first. Each reflects its creator's own view.
- SCI-Arc Channel2025Official
Contact
Tuition and cost for a year
Compared with 727 private United States schools with published tuition in Duckling's data.
Non-resident tuition (College Scorecard); international students pay at least this, some schools add an international fee.
VND converted at Vietcombank's selling rate on 15/10/2026; indicative only — the real amount depends on the rate when you pay.
Scholarships and aid for international students
- Is merit considered automatically with the application?UnclearThe page says all completed applicants by the priority deadline are automatically considered, but that statement does not specifically identify international applicants.
- Is admission need-blind for international applicants?UnclearThe provided pages do not state whether admission decisions consider an international applicant's ability to pay.
- Is the CSS Profile or a school aid form required?UnclearThe pages do not mention a CSS Profile or a separate financial-aid form for international students.
Scholarships at this school
Admissions Merit-Based ScholarshipsIntl eligibility unclearThe school does not say whether international students can get this scholarship, so “Cost for a year” at the top does not subtract it. Ask the school before counting on it.MeritMeritAwarded on achievement (grades, awards, activities), regardless of family finances.Considered automatically with the admission applicationSchool page
Deadline: completed application by the priority deadline
Admissions Need-Based ScholarshipsIntl eligibility unclearThe school does not say whether international students can get this scholarship, so “Cost for a year” at the top does not subtract it. Ask the school before counting on it.Need-basedNeed-basedAwarded on family financial circumstances, usually via the CSS Profile or the school's own form.Application method unclearSchool page
This admissions need-based scholarship is awarded only to admitted domestic students, excluding international students.
Admission requirements
Compared with 349 United States schools that publish an application fee in Duckling's data.
English
Application requirements
- High-school transcriptiOfficial high school transcripts for grades 9-11 are needed; non-US transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES member.Required
- English proficiencyRequired
- SATACTOptional
- EssaysRequired
- PortfolioOptional
- Supplementary applicationiThe SCI-Arc supplement question is in the Common App and applies to those applying through it.Required
How to apply
Minimum English scores vs other schools
Compared with 534 United States schools admitting 70%+ that publish it in Duckling's data.
Compared with 454 United States schools admitting 70%+ that publish it in Duckling's data.
DeadlinesFall 2027
- First-year priority application deadline (Fall 2027) (ROLLING)Applicationin92days
Programs
Outcomes
Staying in United States after graduation
OPT: 12 months of work in your field after each degree level; degrees on the DHS STEM list can extend by 24 months (up to 36 months in total). Unemployment during OPT is capped at 90 days (150 days with the STEM extension). Note: on 8 October 2026 DHS published a PROPOSED rule charging USD 70,000 for initial OPT and USD 30,000 for later OPT; it is not in force, and comments close on 9 November 2026.
Climate
School & campus
Where the school is
Detailed map
Academics & housing
Why this school is listed: accepts applications through the Common App.
Updated 11/10/2026How Duckling sources data