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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. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 62%. The freshman retention rate at Pepperdine University is 88% and the six-year graduation rate is 83%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is February 2.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Pepperdine University.
Quick Facts
3,553
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$71,860
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for Pepperdine University?
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 7,245 in 2025. Pepperdine University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate.
Test Scores
18% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 10% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 41% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 54% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 5% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 70, 26 between 24-29 and 4 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 30 and the average GPA was 3.61. 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 679 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 683.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is February 2.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Pepperdine University was 88% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of 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. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 8,976 students.
That year, the institution had 41% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 3,553, 277 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 85.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 2,181 male and 3,640 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Pepperdine University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 520, and the number of Afro-American students was 130. 690 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 261 identified with more than one race. The school also had 12 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 96 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
Wondering about tuition at Pepperdine University? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $71,860 for all full-time domestic students. Pepperdine University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $812 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to set aside about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Pepperdine University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Pepperdine University was $22,480 in 2025. If you only wanted a room on the campus, it cost $16,090 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 71,860 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,480 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 95,340 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at Pepperdine University.
The most recent records show that 412 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $50,048.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,849 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,874. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $5,105,614, and state $4,266,578. The students of Pepperdine University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $72,492,719, and external in the amount of $1,125,428.
$16,896
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $19,885,235. 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 $650 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Pepperdine University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 903. This number included 377 men and 526 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Pepperdine University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about social life at Pepperdine University.
It has a campus size of 830 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
This school has 123 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. 22 percent of male and 33 of female students are active in different organizations at Pepperdine University. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Food Recovery Network, followed by Waves of Silence and Nourish. Other popular student organizations at this school are Climbing Club and Pre-Med.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students looking to explore media and communication, Pepperdine University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Pepperdine University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent 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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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Pepperdine University is 71,860 USD, based on the most recent data.
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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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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Pepperdine University is 62%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Pepperdine University is 88%.
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.
