| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.71 |
| Liaison | Tsuneo Yabusaki |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Soka University of America
PA-7: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.76 / 4.00 |
Andrew
Woolsey Director of Enrollment Services Enrollment Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
Support for Low-Income Students
Yes
None
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
Meeting the costs of higher education represents a significant investment for most families. At Soka University of America, we are committed to taking on a partnership to help you along the way. In an effort to promote greater diversity and access, we are committed to providing comprehensive, merit and need-based financial aid programs that make it possible for admitted students who meet specific requirements and deadlines to attend Soka University. SUA admits students without regard to their ability to pay. SUA's need-blind admission policy means that a student's financial need will not affect his or her possible admission to the university. The Office of Financial Aid partners with students and families in order to ensure that Soka education is accessible to all students who are admitted. Soka is committed to investing its resources to ensure the success of our students.
None
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
Soka University's Office of Financial Aid offers a comprehensive Financial Literacy program designed to educate students, faculty, and staff on how to develop life skills to take control and manager their own financial well being. Regularly scheduled workshops and one on one counseling appointments are offered year round to provide support for individuals wanting to know more about their options towards financing their education.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
Soka University's Office of Financial Aid retains a full time staff who's primary responsibility is to advise students on various aspects of Federal, State, and Institutional awarding. These individuals provide targeted support to traditionally underrepresented groups who may be experiencing financial hardship.
None
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Soka Opportunity Scholarship: In an effort to promote greater diversity and access to higher education, all admitted students to the BA in Liberal Arts program whose annual earned family income is $60,000 or less, and who have neither graduated from college nor completed more than 3/4 of their required coursework towards their first undergraduate (e.g., BA/BS) degree at the time of application to SUA, will receive a full tuition scholarship.
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Soka University's Office of Admission retains a full time staff who's primary responsibility is to implement various aspects of a strategic recruitment plan which targets the support for traditionally underrepresented groups. These individuals are responsible for developing and implementing access strategies for target outreach populations and programs with the intent of providing pre-enrollment advising for prospective students.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
Soka university of America accepts fee waivers for its admissions application for students who demonstrate need and financial hardship. Prospective students who completed higher education outside the United States (US) are required to submit their coursework to International Education Research Foundation (IERF) to a grade conversion equivalent to that of the US. However, the university strives to help and pay IERF submission fees for students who are unable to pay. Moreover, on an individual case basis, Soka University of America may also pay for airfares for low-income students during the recruitment process.
Support for Non-Traditional Students
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
Nearly 97% percent of students attending SUA are enrolled full time. In the rare occurrence that a student needs to be enrolled part-time, SUA offers prorated scholarships for students predicated on appeal to the Financial Aid Office and individual special circumstance.
A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:
Unknown
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
Same as listed in Part 1 or services for low income students.
Part 2
Yes
The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
51
The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
100
On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
88
The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
37
Optional Fields
100
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
In an effort to promote greater diversity and access to higher education, Soka University of America invests 14.1 million dollars annually in the form of grants and scholarships to its student body of approximately 450 students. All admitted students to the BA in Liberal Arts program whose annual earned family income is $60,000* or less, and who have neither graduated from college nor completed more than 3/4 of their required coursework towards their first undergraduate degree (e.g., BA/BS) at the time of application to SUA, will receive full tuition (room and board fees will still apply). *Income includes wages, interest, dividends, capital gain, etc. SUA provides prorated awards for students who come from families with higher income levels and/or have significant assets.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.