Admit rate has ranged 32%–53% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Perched on cliffs above the Pacific, Pepperdine University blends rigorous academics with a distinctly Southern California vibe—think surfboards and chapel services. This mid-sized Christian university (affiliated with the Churches of Christ) attracts students drawn to its strong business and psychology programs, tight-knit community, and postcard-worthy Malibu campus. While the sticker price is steep, Pepperdine delivers strong graduation rates and alumni outcomes, particularly for those pursuing careers in law, business, or ministry.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
3,553
In-state tuition
$69,918
Out-of-state tuition
$69,918
Location
Malibu, CA
Acceptance Rate
~63%
6-Year Grad Rate
83%
Total Annual Cost
$95,168
Student-Faculty Ratio
13:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$82,939
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.4×
Median debt at graduation
$23,510
Graduation rate
83%
First-year retention
88%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
74%
Pell (lower-income) share
45%
First-generation share
18%
Endowment / student
Financial health
2.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Accounting and Related Services$62,508
International Business$58,673
Business Administration, Management and Operations$57,770
Finance and Financial Management Services$57,318
Economics$47,260
Political Science and Government$46,478
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
8
Per 1,000 students
2.25
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
252
Summer high
79°F
Winter low
48°F
Annual rain
19.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
176
Scholarly works
8,501
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.9%
Bottom → top quintile
43%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University's acceptance rate is approximately 63% (Malibu, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Pepperdine University?
Admitted students at Pepperdine University typically score 1290–1450 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Pepperdine University cost?
At Pepperdine University, the average net price (after aid) is about $58,098 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University enrolls approximately 3,553 undergraduate students.
Where is Pepperdine University located?
Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA.
Admissions
Pepperdine's admissions process is somewhat selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 63% (sources vary slightly between 62.85% and 63%). Successful applicants typically present:
SAT scores between 1290–1450 (middle 50% range, with recent averages around 1321)
ACT scores between 29–32 (middle 50% range)
Unweighted GPAs of 3.64–3.88 for first-year students
The university accepts the Common Application and has a January 15 deadline for regular decision. While test scores are considered, Pepperdine emphasizes a Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone. process that includes essays, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$46,156
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$45,696
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Pepperdine's academic offerings are anchored by six schools, with Seaver College (the undergraduate liberal arts division) as the centerpiece. The university is particularly known for:
Business, Management, and Marketing (the most popular major)
Psychology (another top program)
Communication/Journalism
Public Relations
Graduate programs in education, psychology, business (Graziadio Business School), and law are especially well-regarded. The curriculum integrates Christian values, and all undergraduates complete a general education program that includes religion courses. Small class sizes (the student-faculty ratio is 13:1) foster close mentorship.
Life at Pepperdine revolves around its stunning 830-acre Malibu campus, where 61% of undergraduates live on campus. The vibe is often described as:
Tight-knit and community-oriented, with a strong emphasis on Christian values (daily chapel is optional but influential)
Active but not raucous—students report feeling extremely safe (99% in Niche polls), and social life leans toward outdoor activities, clubs, and service organizations rather than Greek life
Demographically homogeneous: Many students come from affluent, conservative Protestant backgrounds, though the university has made efforts to diversify
Notable quirks include the 10 p.m. "quiet hours" (cited by students as emblematic of Pepperdine's early-to-bed culture) and the "Step Forward Day" service tradition.
Pepperdine boasts strong graduation rates and career outcomes:
83% overall graduation rate (top 10% nationally)
82.4% of graduates are "settled" within six months—either employed (56%), in grad school (24%), or serving in the military/volunteering (1%)
Median early-career earnings: ~$54,000 (above average for similar institutions)
Alumni networks are particularly robust in Southern California business, law, and ministry circles. The university's location near Los Angeles provides internship and job pipelines in entertainment, tech, and finance.
Pepperdine is one of the priciest private universities in the U.S., but generous aid softens the blow for many:
Total annual cost: $95,168 (tuition, fees, room/board)
Average net price after aid: $52,216
54% of students receive financial aid, with average packages of $44,096
Merit scholarships (based on academics, leadership, or talent) and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. are both available. The university encourages families to use its Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates.
Pepperdine’s unmatched location—overlooking the Pacific from the Malibu bluffs—is just the start. It uniquely merges:
Rigorous academics with a faith-based mission, appealing to students seeking intellectual challenge within a Christian framework
Strong professional outcomes (especially in business and law) with a liberal arts foundation
A serene, almost retreat-like campus that’s still just 30 minutes from Los Angeles
It’s not for everyone—those seeking a secular or party-heavy atmosphere will feel out of place—but for students aligned with its values, Pepperdine offers a rare blend of academic prestige, spiritual community, and California dreaminess.
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