SUA Quick Facts

SUA Quick Facts

FAST FACTS:

  • SUA's school colors are royal blue, white, and gold.
  • An independent, non-profit, public-benefit co-educational institution of higher education.
  • Graduate School opened in 1994, Masters program in educational Leadership and Societal Change began in 2014. 
  • Soka University of America opened in 2001. The history of our university can be found here. 
  • Beautiful 103-acre campus in South Orange County, California that is located three miles from the Pacific Ocean and Laguna Beaches main beach (if you're a bird.) It is roughly about nine miles to drive to the beach. 
  • SUA's campus is surrounded by a 4000-acre wilderness park on 85% of its border.
  • Soka University is located in the city of Aliso Viejo and is 400 ft. above sea level.
  • 8:1 Student/Faculty Ratio
  • Small Seminar Classes (Average class size 12 for undergraduate program)
  • About half of SUA students have come from the US, and half have come from over 40 countries. 
  • Laptop computers for each entering undergraduate student included in tuition.
  • Semester of study abroad for undergraduates in their junior year included in tuition. 
  • Generous financial aid available. 
  • Graduating from Soka you will earn a B.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in either Environmental Studies, Humanities, International Studies, Life Sciences, or Social & Behavioral Science. 
  • Soka Athletics is a members of the NAIA. (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
  • SUA's Men's and Women's Cross Country teams, Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams, Men's and Women's Soccer teams, Men's and Women's Golf teams, Men's and Women's Swim teams, and Men's Volleyball are members of the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC).
  • SUA's Men's and Women's swimming programs are also members of the PCSC. (Pacific Collegiate Swim & Dive Conference).
  • In 2012 the Women's Cross Country team was the first SUA program to win a Cal Pac Conference Championship. 
  • In 2012 former Head Cross Country Coach Gigi Freeman earned Coach of the year honors for her team's performance at the Conference Championships. 
  • SUA’s logo depicts the nib of a pen flanked by the wings of a legendary Chinese bird that can fly great distances and that comes to earth only where there is something precious. The pen represents wisdom and the wings symbolize the ability to put knowledge and wisdom into the service of humanity.
  • Nickname and Mascot: The Chinese characters for Lion can individually be read as "sound alike" words mentor and student - an appropriate symbol for a university that prides itself on nurturing each student's potential.
  • SUA's official mascot is the lion, a symbol of courage and strength.
  • On Oct. 5, 2021, Soka University of America Athletics announced the creation of its first-ever official athletics Lion mascot.
  • In the following months, the Soka University student body selected the mascot design and chose “Leo” as the mascot’s name.
  • On September 13, 2022, Leo made its first appearance and officially signed a letter of Intent with Soka Athletics.
  • On April 2, 2025 Soka's Womens Golf team won its first ever Conference Championship Title.
  • Head Golf Coach Curtis Robinson became the second coach in school history to be named a Cal Pac Conference Coach of the Year, earning the 2025 Cal Pac Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year.  
Soka University Mission Statement
The mission of Soka University of America is to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life. (Daisaku Ikeda, Founder, SUA)

University Mottos

 *  Be philosophers of a renaissance of life.
 *  Be world citizens in solidarity for peace.
 *  Be the pioneers of a global civilization.

 

University Principles

 *  Foster leaders of culture in the community.
 *  Foster leaders of humanism in society.
 *  Foster leaders of pacifism in the world.
 *  Foster leaders for the creative coexistence of nature and humanity.
 

Values

Soka University is founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life.  The curriculum in non-sectarian. Educational objectives are fostered at the university through the commitment to rigorous academic endeavors, free and open dialogue, and an appreciation for human diversity. Education is an integrating process in which students gain an awareness of the interdependence of themselves, others and the environment. Wisdom, courage and compassion - values treasured by the university -- do not exist in isolation. They emerge in individuals as they learn the importance of service to others, to the natural world around them, and to the great cause of peace and freedom.

Soka University Athletics' Mission Statement:
To provide a platform to promote our Student-Athletes' growth in becoming global citizens through sportsmanship, community outreach, and the competitive experiences found within Intercollegiate Athletics.

Athletics & Recreation Student Learning Outcomes:
* Understand the exercise benefits in cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual domains.
* Develop leadership skills and the understanding of teamwork,personal integrity, responsibility and maturity.
* Develop organizational skills, time management, organization and goal setting.
* Understand the contributions of sports within communities.