Malibu, CA · Private · 3,553 undergraduates · suburban
Pepperdine University
Selective
Pepperdine combines a steep, residential Malibu campus with university-operated international campuses where students can live and study as Pepperdine cohorts.
Institutional profile
Well established Strong in career outcomes, and strong in academic standing.- Admission
- 49.9% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 84%
12,457 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$82,939 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Pepperdine University apart
Academic design
International Programs offer semester and year experiences at Pepperdine-operated locations, with courses integrated into students' Malibu degree plans.
Campus pattern
The Malibu campus climbs hills above the Pacific, so ocean views, elevation changes, shuttles, and a relatively self-contained setting shape daily life.
A signature opportunity
Pepperdine-operated international campuses create a more institutionally integrated study-abroad model than a typical exchange semester.
Can I get in?
49.9% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
12,457About 50 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 14% submitted an SAT, and 7% submitted an ACT. Almost nobody admitted here sent a score, which leaves the SAT and ACT ranges standing on a handful of files.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Pepperdine University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Pepperdine University weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
International Programs offer semester and year experiences at Pepperdine-operated locations, with courses integrated into students' Malibu degree plans.
Make institutional fit specific
Pepperdine combines a steep, residential Malibu campus with university-operated international campuses where students can live and study as Pepperdine cohorts.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Pepperdine University
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Admits separately
Psychology, General
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Admits separately
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Biology, General
What is campus life like?
Pepperdine University beyond the classroom
The Malibu campus climbs hills above the Pacific, so ocean views, elevation changes, shuttles, and a relatively self-contained setting shape daily life.
A defining academic feature
International Programs offer semester and year experiences at Pepperdine-operated locations, with courses integrated into students' Malibu degree plans.
What shapes an ordinary week
The Malibu campus climbs hills above the Pacific, so ocean views, elevation changes, shuttles, and a relatively self-contained setting shape daily life.
A reason to look closer
Pepperdine-operated international campuses create a more institutionally integrated study-abroad model than a typical exchange semester.