Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private research university in Malibu, California, serving roughly 3,553 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 62.86% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $82,939 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $69,918
- 2024 Average Net Price: $58,098 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 62.86% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,553 95.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 83.35%
- Average SAT Score: 1384
Pepperdine University: what the data shows
Common questions about Pepperdine University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA (ZIP 90263).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Pepperdine University public or private?
Pepperdine University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Pepperdine University cost?
Published tuition: $69,918.
Average net price after aid: $58,098.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $50,560 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $42,674 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $51,063 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $61,851 |
| $110,001+ | $65,081 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $279,672.
How hard is it to get into Pepperdine University?
Admission rate: 62.86%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1384 and midpoint ACT 28.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Pepperdine University?
Total enrollment: 3,553 students.
About 95% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Pepperdine University?
150%-time completion rate: 83.35%.
First-year retention: 87.6%.
What do graduates of Pepperdine University earn?
Median earnings: $64,934 six years after entry; $82,939 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,510.
20.25% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Pepperdine University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (3,334 completions)
- CIP 422801 (788 completions)
- CIP 520201 (635 completions)
- General Psychology (290 completions)
- Law (JD) (197 completions)
- CIP 302801 (134 completions)
- CIP 521301 (108 completions)
- Educational Administration & Support (100 completions)
- CIP 422814 (96 completions)
- CIP 220201 (87 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Pepperdine University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 62.86%; completion rate 83.35%; median earnings $82,939 at 10 years; net price $58,098. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$69,918
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pepperdine University was $69,918.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$58,098
2024 Value
In 2024 Pepperdine University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $58,098.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$232,392 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$58,098 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$279,672 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Pepperdine University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
20.25% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
37.31% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pepperdine University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pepperdine University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $44,902 | $44,902 | $24,446 |
| 2014 | $46,692 | $46,692 | $26,876 |
| 2015 | $48,342 | $48,342 | $33,314 |
| 2016 | $50,022 | $50,022 | $34,808 |
| 2017 | $51,992 | $51,992 | $33,814 |
| 2018 | $53,932 | $53,932 | $34,701 |
| 2019 | $55,892 | $55,892 | $36,996 |
| 2020 | $58,002 | $58,002 | $38,846 |
| 2021 | $59,702 | $59,702 | $35,167 |
| 2022 | $63,142 | $63,142 | $42,167 |
| 2023 | $66,742 | $66,742 | $45,409 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
62.86% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1384
ACT Average: 28
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pepperdine University in 2024 is 3,553 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
87.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
75.09% 100% Completion Time
83.35% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 75.09% of students graduating from Pepperdine University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Pepperdine University.
Return on Investment
$23,510 Median Student Debt
$82,939 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
28.35% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
256.89% Return on Investment
2.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Pepperdine University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 42.2801: 788 completions
CIP 52.0201: 635 completions
General Psychology: 290 completions
Law (JD): 197 completions
CIP 30.2801: 134 completions
CIP 52.1301: 108 completions
Educational Administration & Support: 100 completions
CIP 42.2814: 96 completions
CIP 22.0201: 87 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 3,334 completions
Most popular programs at Pepperdine University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Pepperdine University graduates.
About
Pepperdine University is a private non-profit institution located in Malibu, CA, offering 72 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 3,553 students. The admission rate is 62.86%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1384. The institution maintains a 83.35% graduation rate. Approximately 20.25% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Malibu, CA 90263
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 83.35% graduation rate, Pepperdine University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: Pepperdine University graduates report median earnings of $82,939 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 72 distinct degree programs, Pepperdine University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Pepperdine University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $69,918 and average net price is $58,098 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Pepperdine University?
The admission rate is 62.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Pepperdine University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Pepperdine University reports midpoint SAT about 1384 and midpoint ACT about 28.
What do graduates of Pepperdine University earn?
Median earnings are $64,934 six years after entry and $82,939 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pepperdine University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 83.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pepperdine University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,510.
How big is Pepperdine University?
Total enrollment is about 3,553 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Pepperdine University public or private?
Pepperdine University is a private nonprofit institution located in Malibu, CA.
Is Pepperdine University an HBCU?
No. Pepperdine University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pepperdine University a tribal college?
No. Pepperdine University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pepperdine University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Pepperdine University does not meet that proxy (reported share 19.4%).
Is Pepperdine University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Pepperdine University: Churches of Christ.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.