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Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
Pepperdine University is a prestigious private research university located in Malibu, California. Founded in 1937, the university is known for its stunning campus, rigorous academic programs, and commitment to integrating faith into education. Pepperdine offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across its five schools: Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; Caruso School of Law; Graziadio Business School; Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and School of Public Policy.
Pepperdine's campus is situated on a picturesque hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, providing students with a serene and inspiring environment for learning. The university emphasizes small class sizes, allowing students to receive personalized attention and actively engage with faculty members. Pepperdine's academic programs are designed to foster critical thinking, ethical leadership, and a global perspective. Students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on research, internships, and study abroad programs, enhancing their intellectual growth and preparing them for successful careers in their chosen fields.
Beyond academics, Pepperdine promotes a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities and organizations for students to participate in. The university encourages students to explore their interests and develop leadership skills through involvement in student clubs, cultural events, and community service initiatives. Pepperdine also places a strong emphasis on Christian values, integrating faith principles into its curriculum and creating an inclusive community that encourages spiritual growth and social responsibility. Overall, Pepperdine University offers a comprehensive educational experience that combines rigorous academics, stunning natural surroundings, and a strong commitment to personal and spiritual development.
Pepperdine University is a private university located in Malibu, CA and set in a suburban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 49%. The freshman retention rate at Pepperdine University is 86% and the six-year graduation rate is 85%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is January 15.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Pepperdine University.
Quick Facts
3,629
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
49%
Acceptance Rate
$69,130
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
85%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Check out some vital facts about admission at Pepperdine University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,210 in 2024. Pepperdine University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 14% and ACT scores 7%. 41% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 49% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 10% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 56, 30 between 24-29, 15 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2024 was 30 and the average GPA was 3.65. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Pepperdine University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 686 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 681.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If considering applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is January 15.
49%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Pepperdine University was 86%, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 85%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school had an enrollment of 9,545 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 42% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 3,629, 303 of which were international students. 115 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,245 male and 3,708 female full-time students in 2024. There were 877 full-time graduate male and 1,670 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 544, while the number of African American students was 131. 680 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 274 identified with more than one race. The school also had 11 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 59 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Pepperdine University estimated tuition costs.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $69,130 in 2024. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $788 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important expense. The estimated expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,000.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
At Pepperdine University, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $21,750. If you only wanted a room on the campus, you had to pay $15,660 for the 2024 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 69,130 |
| Room and Board | $ 21,750 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 91,880 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pepperdine University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 567 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $48,645 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 1,898 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,918. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $4,609,532, and state $4,068,591. The students of Pepperdine University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $73,914,620, and external in the amount of $936,277.
$19,841
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $21,577,836. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $644,742 USD.
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2024, this ratio at Pepperdine University was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 926 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 391 men and 535 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Pepperdine University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Pepperdine University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at Pepperdine University.
Its campus is 830 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 96. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 18 and female students 33. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Pepperdine Weightlifting Club, followed by Days For Girls and Pepperdine Pre-Medicine Club. Other popular organizations among the students at Pepperdine University are Pepperdine Climbing Club and Nourish.
For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. For students interested in media and communication, Pepperdine University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Pepperdine University offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Pepperdine University.
All in all, campus life at Pepperdine University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pepperdine University.
Career Counselling
At Pepperdine University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 69,130 USD per academic year for Pepperdine University.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Pepperdine University is 49%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Pepperdine University is 86%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.