Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA 90263
About Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private research university in Malibu, California, serving roughly 3,553 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 62.86% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $82,939 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Pepperdine University charges about 2.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($69,918).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 8.6×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 83.35%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $82,939.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Pepperdine University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 257% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Pepperdine University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 72 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | $69,918 | $58,098 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 17% below published tuition at Pepperdine University
Key findings
- Pepperdine University's average net price ($58,098) is 17% below published tuition ($69,918).
- Pepperdine University charges about 2.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($69,918).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 8.6×.
Pepperdine University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $69,918
Finding Pepperdine University charges about 2.4× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $69,918. That is about 2.4× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 8.6×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 5.9×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Pepperdine University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pepperdine University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pepperdine University is $58,098.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $58,098 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $49,755 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $39,398 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Pepperdine University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 17% lower after grants and scholarships.
Pepperdine University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pepperdine University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$69,918
Avg. net price
$58,098
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Pepperdine University is known for
Top program completions
- Clinical Psychology788
- Business Administration and Management, General635
- Psychology, General290
- Law197
- Dispute Resolution134
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 12% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1384
- Midpoint ACT: 28
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Pepperdine University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pepperdine University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Pepperdine University.
Campus
Location
Malibu, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 90263
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 3.1× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Doctoral/Professional Universities
Size
Enrollment
3,553
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 3,865
- Graduate
- 5,423
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,510
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 20.25%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pepperdine University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1384 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 28 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.60
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Pepperdine University reported total enrollment of about 3,553 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (43.8%), Hispanic or Latino (19.4%), and Asian (14.6%). About 20.25% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 17.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pepperdine University in 2024 is 3,553 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,865 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,423 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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Clinical Psychology: 14% male / 86% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 50% male / 50% female
- Psychology, General: 16% male / 84% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Pepperdine University graduates earn a median of $82,939 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pepperdine University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $82,939. Median federal loan debt: $23,510. Average net price used in cost models: $58,098.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Pepperdine University graduates report median earnings of $82,939 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Pepperdine University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (72 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pepperdine University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pepperdine University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pepperdine University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$1.22B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 62× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 73× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 46× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 16× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 16× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 9.5× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 46.8%
- California median 7.4 pp above median (39.3%)
- Far West median 1.1 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 11.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $14,314
- California median 1.4× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.5× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.9× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,390
- California median 1.6× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 1.5× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Pepperdine University at a glance
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private non-profit institution in Malibu, CA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Clinical PsychologyBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian43.8%Hispanic or Latino19.4%Asian14.6%
Schools near Pepperdine University
Other campuses in Malibu, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pepperdine University located?
Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA.
What is Pepperdine University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Pepperdine University is 62.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 12,457 applicants and 6,210 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Pepperdine University's tuition?
Pepperdine University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $69,918 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $58,098 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pepperdine University cost?
Reported tuition is $69,918 and average net price is $58,098 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $21,750 annually.
Why is Pepperdine University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Pepperdine University, published tuition is $69,918 while average net price is $58,098—about 17% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Pepperdine University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($58,098), completion (83.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($82,939). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,865 students, White (43.8%), Hispanic or Latino (19.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Pepperdine University?
About 17.6% of students at Pepperdine University are first-generation college students.
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.
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.