Middle-income families who previously received partial aid now qualify for 100% tuition coverage under the expanded Soka Opportunity Plan

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Soka University of America (SUA) today announced a major expansion of the Soka Opportunity Plan, its undergraduate financial aid guarantee. Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, families earning $200,000 or less annually will qualify for 100% tuition coverage, more than doubling the previous $90,000 threshold for full-tuition eligibility. Every admitted undergraduate will continue to receive a merit scholarship automatically, regardless of family income.

Guaranteed tuition coverage under the expanded plan:

• Family income of $200,000 or less: 100% tuition covered
• Family income of $200,001 to $250,000: 50% tuition covered
• Family income of $250,001 to $300,000: 25% tuition covered

"This initiative reflects our commitment to opportunity as much as affordability," said Edward Feasel, president of Soka University of America. "From our founding, Soka has existed to educate global citizens committed to contributing to society. Expanding the Soka Opportunity Plan will open the door to an SUA education for more students, giving them the opportunity to discover what they can contribute to the world."

Students may also qualify for additional financial assistance to help cover housing, meals, books, transportation, and other educational expenses through existing federal, state, and institutional aid programs.

The Soka Opportunity Plan combines merit scholarships, need-based grants, and institutional funding to reach each guaranteed coverage level. After a student submits the required financial aid application, the Office of Financial Aid determines eligibility for available federal, state, and institutional grants. If that combined assistance does not meet the guaranteed coverage level, Soka provides a Middle-Income Grant to close the tuition gap.

Eligible students are automatically considered for the Soka Opportunity Plan through the university's financial aid process; no separate application is required, though students must submit all required financial aid materials by the priority deadline and meet the program's eligibility requirements. The plan applies to incoming students and to continuing students who remain enrolled at Soka when the new tiers take effect. It is expected to benefit a meaningful share of SUA's approximately 480 undergraduates, as well as future incoming classes.

Under the plan's previous structure, families earning between $90,000 and $300,000 qualified for partial aid, guaranteed at least 25% of tuition. The expanded plan replaces that range with fixed, published coverage levels at every income tier, making the level of guaranteed tuition coverage clear before students apply.

About Soka University of America

Soka University of America is a private, nonprofit liberal arts university in Aliso Viejo, California, dedicated to fostering a steady stream of global citizens committed to living contributive lives. Through small classes, close faculty mentorship, international perspectives, and an interdisciplinary curriculum, Soka prepares students to lead with wisdom, compassion, and courage in an increasingly interconnected world.

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SOURCE Soka University of America