College comparison

Pepperdine vs UC Irvine

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Pepperdine Malibu, CA	UC Irvine Irvine, CA
Acceptance rateUniversity of California-Irvine is more selective	63%	29%
SAT (25–75)	1290–1450	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	3,553	30,197
Avg net price	$58,098	$14,251
Median earnings (10 yr)Pepperdine reports higher median earnings	$82,939	$80,735
Graduation rate	83%	87%
Median debt	$23,510	$15,000
Economic mobility	1.9%	6.8%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Public

Quick answers

Is Pepperdine University or University of California-Irvine harder to get into?

University of California-Irvine is more selective: Pepperdine University's acceptance rate is approximately 63% and University of California-Irvine's is approximately 29% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Pepperdine University vs University of California-Irvine?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1290–1450 at Pepperdine University and — at University of California-Irvine. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.