UCLA vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 418 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Southern California Institute of Architecture is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; Southern California Institute of Architecture 9:1.

UCLA vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or SCI-Arc? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Los Angeles than SCI-Arc ($14,512 vs. $28,985).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 26% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($13,600 vs. $18,369).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 269.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $40,959 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at SCI-Arc than at University of California Los Angeles (about $6,759 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (49% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 66.3% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($42,627 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or SCI-Arc? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCI-Arc and UCLA.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 290 points higher than at SCI-Arc (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Southern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UCLA students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at SCI-Arc (3.5).
• SCI-Arc has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 7% at SCI-Arc.

UCLA vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and SCI-Arc? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Southern California Institute of Architecture's (58%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $26,450 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($16,300 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $274 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($168 vs. $442).
• More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.