Southern California Institute of Architecture

SCI-Arc's tuition is approximately $53,564 per year, but the average total aid awarded is $45,500. While 43% of students receive financial aid, some students find financial aid support lacking. Despite the cost, many students feel the intensive workload prepares them well for professional success.

SCI-Arc has an acceptance rate of 83% and looks for applicants with a strong creative and artistic background, demonstrated through their portfolio and essays. SAT/ACT scores are considered but not required. The application fee is $85, and the priority deadline is January 15.

SCI-Arc is known for its innovative approach to architectural education and its emphasis on design, technology, and sustainability. The school fosters a collaborative and lively design environment inspired by architecture, music, fashion, and related arts. Students describe SCI-Arc as an intense and demanding school that pushes them to their limits, fostering strong discipline.

SCI-Arc graduates are heavily recruited by top firms including Morphosis, Gehry Partners, and Gensler. The school's vast alumni network is connected to major architecture firms worldwide, helping graduates secure careers. Many alumni have also founded their own firms or teach at prestigious universities.

SCI-Arc offers a tight-knit community where students know each other well and often help one another. The school is located in the heart of LA, providing access to the city's artistic and cultural scene. While some students find the student life lacking, the current student body is working to implement more social activities.

SCI-Arc has a rather good rating for on-campus security. The school offers 24-hour emergency phone/alarm devices and 24-hour security patrols. Electronically operated school entrances are available 24/7.

SCI-Arc does not have a traditional honors college, but it offers a unique and robust graduate thesis sequence. The culmination of the graduate curriculum challenges students’ abilities to synthesize design problems and produce critical architecture. SCI-Arc has long been one of this country's best experimental labs.

SCI-Arc takes pride in its status as a diverse and inclusive academic institution, attracting a global cohort of students, faculty, and collaborators. Over 50% of students are from outside the U.S. The institution is dedicated to nurturing an inclusive global architectural perspective.