Institutional grants and scholarships are awarded by Soka and do not need to be repaid. Awards may be merit-based, need-based, or both, and carry specific renewal conditions.
This year, every student in Soka’s incoming class received at least one institutional grant or scholarship. Every continuing student who qualified for need-based assistance received it. Students may combine institutional scholarships up to the total cost of attendance. Awards are available to domestic, international, and Dreamer students who qualify.
The Soka Opportunity Grant is Soka's need-based grant program. Students who submit a financial aid application are automatically considered — no separate application required. The grant renews each year upon reapplication and is available for up to eight semesters.
The grant applies toward tuition and mandatory fees. It is part of Soka's need-based "equity group," which coordinates with federal and state programs including the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Cal Grant. The combined total of these grants may not exceed the cost of tuition; the Soka Opportunity Grant may be adjusted to stay within that limit.
Private scholarships from outside organizations are treated separately and will not reduce a student's institutional grant eligibility unless required by overall cost-of-attendance limits.
Learn about income-based grant tiers on the Soka Opportunity Plan page.
Awarded upon admission to students with exceptional academic records. All admitted students receive automatic consideration; no separate application required. Renewable for up to eight semesters.
Covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, travel, personal expenses, books, and supplies.
The recipient demonstrates high academic achievement, outstanding character, and financial need. All admitted students receive automatic consideration through the admissions application. Renewable for up to eight semesters.
Soka's most prestigious scholarship. Three awards are made each year — one to a student entering sophomore year, one entering junior year, one entering senior year. Each covers the full cost of attendance for one academic year.
Recipients are selected based on academic accomplishment and demonstrated leadership and service. The dean of faculty and dean of students make final recommendations to the university president. Recipients are announced in the summer preceding each academic year.
A $20,000 scholarship honoring the late John D. Montgomery, a founding member of Soka's Board of Trustees and founding director of the Pacific Basin Research Center. Recipients are selected based on academic merit and a record of service that reflects the university's humanitarian goals.
$5,000 for one academic year. Each year, the Scholarship Committee selects the top three academic performers from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes to receive this award the following year. Selection is based on outstanding performance for that year — not cumulative record. Recipients may be selected again in subsequent years. Where recipients already receive financial aid, their package is adjusted accordingly. Recipients are announced each fall.
Student-athletes in the following sports may be offered an athletic scholarship in conjunction with other institutional, state, or federal aid:
Awards are offered and renewed at the discretion of the director of athletics and individual sport directors. Students interested in an athletic scholarship should contact the director of their sport.
Soka has partnered with RaiseMe, a platform that helps students in grades 9–12 earn micro-scholarships for academic and extracurricular achievements — including volunteering, leadership, and strong grades. Awards accumulate as you progress through high school and apply toward your Soka aid package.
To qualify, submit your RaiseMe achievements alongside your application by the January 15 priority deadline.
These databases list thousands of external scholarship opportunities:
Soka named scholarships are available for current Soka students and require an application.
Brian overcame great challenges to make the impossible possible.
Evelyn was an active role model for women in science, a champion of women's rights, and a promoter of education in the arts.
Honoring an earnest devotion to scientific research, the arts, and courageous contributions to world peace and social justice.
Open to all undergraduates who aspire to be a force for positive change. Additional consideration given to students who identify with the Hawaiian Islands or Hawaiian culture.
For students who can articulate how they will apply the philosophies of John Dewey and Daisaku Ikeda in their life's work.
The following federal and state aid programs are available to eligible domestic students. Students must complete the FAFSA by the March 2 annual deadline to be considered for most programs.
Awarded based on financial need; does not need to be repaid. Students must complete the FAFSA to apply. Lifetime eligibility is capped at the equivalent of six years of funding.
Visit the U.S. Department of Education for more information.
Awarded to students with the greatest demonstrated financial need. Funded by the federal government and administered by Soka. No repayment required.
Funded by the state of California and administered by the California Student Aid Commission. To be eligible, students must be California residents who are U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens, or Dreamers, and must submit financial aid applications by the March 2 annual deadline.
Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B Tuition/Fee awards are applied directly to university charges. The Cal Grant B Access Grant is automatically applied to the student account balance; students may request a refund by submitting the Cal Grant B Payment Authorization form to the Office of Financial Aid (available on the student portal).
Maximum award amounts are set by the state and subject to change. Full-time enrollment receives the full grant; half-time enrollment receives a prorated amount.
Visit the California Student Aid Commission for more information.
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides part-time employment to eligible domestic students. Awards are based on financial need and earned as wages — not disbursed upfront. Students must work to receive these funds.
To apply: Complete the FAFSA by the March 2 deadline and indicate interest in work-study.
How it works:
Job listings are available through the student portal under Human Resources/Student Employment.
Taking out a student loan is often the first major financial decision a student makes. Loans must be repaid over time and are offered to cover costs not met by grants or scholarships. The lender may be the federal government, Soka University, or a private institution.
You are never required to accept loans. The Office of Financial Aid offers free counseling to any student who has completed a FAFSA or financial aid application — even before you decide to enroll. Before borrowing, review your full aid package and consider how much you can pay out of pocket, what a payment plan could cover, and what you can reasonably afford to repay.
Domestic students are eligible for federal loan programs. International and Dreamer students are not eligible for federal loans but may apply for a Soka institutional loan.
Available to domestic students
Soka participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program. Funds come directly from the U.S. Department of Education and are available to eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents. These loans — commonly called Stafford Loans — require no credit check and carry annual and aggregate borrowing limits.
Subsidized loans are awarded based on financial need. The federal government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time. Interest begins to accrue after a six-month grace period following graduation or departure.
Unsubsidized loans are available regardless of income. Interest accrues from the date of disbursement.
Federal loan benefits include fixed interest rates set by federal law, income-driven repayment options, deferment and forbearance protections, and potential eligibility for loan forgiveness programs. For these reasons, federal loans are the recommended starting point before exploring other options.
Visit Federal Student Aid for current rates, limits, and repayment options.
Available to domestic students
Parent PLUS Loans allow parents of dependent undergraduate students to borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education to help cover costs not met by other aid. A credit review is required.
Borrowing limits effective July 1, 2026:
These limits apply to total Parent PLUS borrowing across all institutions. Families who reach the lifetime limit before graduation will need to explore other financing options.
Repayment typically begins within 60 days of final disbursement. Standard repayment period is 10 years; deferment options may be available while the student is enrolled. There is no interest subsidy.
Visit Federal Student Aid — Parent PLUS for current rates and eligibility.
Available to domestic students
Soka has developed an institutional parent loan for families who have reached federal Parent PLUS borrowing limits or need additional financing.
Lender: Soka University of America · Servicer: Heartland Campus Solutions / ECSI
Repayment begins within 60 days of final disbursement. Standard repayment period is 10 years; minimum monthly payment is $50. Prepayment is allowed without penalty.
Institutional loans do not carry the same federal borrower protections or repayment flexibility as federal loans. Review all terms carefully before borrowing.
Available to international and Dreamer students
International and Dreamer students may apply annually for a Soka institutional loan. Eligibility is determined through the financial aid application. Loans will not exceed the cost of attendance minus other aid for a single academic year.
Lender: Soka University of America · Servicer: Heartland Campus Solutions / ECSI
Loan details:
Repayment:
Private educational loans are offered through private lenders and may help cover costs after federal and institutional options are fully considered.
Private loans do not provide the same borrower protections as federal loans. Soka does not recommend or endorse specific lenders. Compare lenders carefully before borrowing.
Most private loans require school certification confirming enrollment status, cost of attendance, total aid received, and maximum loan eligibility.
Domestic students
| Feature | Federal Student Loans (Sub/Unsub) | Federal Parent PLUS | Soka Parent Loan | Private Loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borrower | Student | Parent | Parent | Student and/or parent |
| Annual Limit | Federal limits by grade level | $20,000 per student | Up to annual cost of attendance | Determined by lender |
| Lifetime Limit | Federal aggregate limits | $65,000 per student | No lifetime limit | Determined by lender |
| Interest Rate | Fixed (set July 1) | Fixed (set July 1) | Fixed (set July 1) | Variable or fixed |
| Loan Fee | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] | None | Determined by lender |
| Credit Check | No | Yes | Requires approved PLUS credit check | Yes |
| Federal Repayment Plans | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Deferment/Forbearance | Yes | Limited | Limited | Determined by lender |
| Forgiveness Programs | Yes | Very limited | Very limited | No |
| Consumer Protections | Strong federal | Federal | Varies by lender/state | Varies by lender/state |
| School Certification | Yes | Yes | Yes — must have accepted all available federal loans first | Yes |
Institutional grants and scholarships are awarded by Soka and do not need to be repaid. Awards may be merit-based or need-based and carry specific renewal conditions.
In the 2025–26 academic year, every graduate student received at least one institutional grant or scholarship. Awards are available to domestic, international, and Dreamer students who qualify.
All students admitted to Soka's Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Societal Change program receive automatic consideration for the Graduate Merit Scholarship. No separate application is required.
Award amounts vary and will not exceed the cost of tuition. The scholarship is renewable for up to four semesters, conditional on satisfactory academic progress and program standards. Eligibility is determined through the graduate admission application and checklist materials.
A need-based grant for graduate students. Award amounts vary. The combined total of the Soka Graduate Grant and the Graduate Merit Scholarship will not exceed the cost of tuition. Renewal is reviewed annually based on available funding and is not guaranteed. Students must reapply each year.
How to apply:
These databases list thousands of external scholarship opportunities:
Taking out a student loan is often the first major financial decision a student makes. Loans must be repaid over time and are offered to cover costs not met by grants or scholarships. The lender may be the federal government, Soka University, or a private institution.
You are never required to accept loans. The Office of Financial Aid offers free counseling to any student who has completed a FAFSA or financial aid application — even before you decide to enroll. Before borrowing, review your full aid package and consider how much you can pay out of pocket, what a payment plan could cover, and what you can reasonably afford to repay.
Domestic students are eligible for federal loan programs. International and Dreamer students are not eligible for federal loans but may apply for a Soka institutional loan.
Soka participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program. Funds come directly from the U.S. Department of Education and are available to eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents. No credit check is required. Graduate students are eligible for unsubsidized loans only. Interest accrues from the date of disbursement.
Visit Federal Student Aid for current rates, limits, and repayment options.
International and Dreamer students may apply annually for a Soka institutional loan. Eligibility is determined by the International Student Financial Aid Application. Loans will not exceed the cost of attendance minus other aid for a single academic year.
Lender: Soka University of America · Servicer: Heartland Campus Solutions / ECSI
Loan details:
Repayment:
1 University Drive
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 480-4342 | Fax: (949) 480-4151 | financialaid@soka.edu
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our offices on the second floor of Founders Hall. To schedule an appointment, email financialaid@soka.edu.