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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 school uses 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. The transfer application deadline is February 2.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Pepperdine University.
Quick Facts
3,553
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$71,860
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Pepperdine University.
According to the most recent 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 takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 18% and ACT scores 10%. 41% of the new 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 freshman students 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. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 679 and an average SAT Math score of 683.
Deadlines
The closing date for applications to Pepperdine University is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is February 2.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Pepperdine University was 88% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right choice for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 8,976 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 41% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 3,553, 277 of which were international students. 85 students enrolled as transfer students.
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
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 520 Asian students and 130 Afro-American students in 2025. 690 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 261 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 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 details you should know about the expenses at Pepperdine University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $71,860 in 2025. Since Pepperdine University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $812.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Pepperdine University amounted to $22,480 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 came to $16,090 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 71,860 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,480 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 95,340 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pepperdine University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 412 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $50,048.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 1,849 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The total 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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like 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
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Pepperdine University was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 903 teachers at this school. This number included 377 male and 526 female faculty members. 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 campus life at Pepperdine University.
Its campus is 830 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 123 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 22 percent of male and 33 of female students take part in in different organizations at Pepperdine University. The student organization that gathers the largest 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. You have a talent for media and communication? Pepperdine University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Pepperdine University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has 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 a great asset 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 71,860 USD per academic year for Pepperdine University.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Pepperdine University is 62%.
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The most recent data indicate that the 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.