Pepperdine University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Pepperdine University is a private institution located in Malibu, California with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Pepperdine University admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 63%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1370 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $58,098 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Pepperdine University?

69% of enrolled students at Pepperdine University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.61, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Pepperdine University weight in admissions?

Pepperdine University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Pepperdine University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

How much does Pepperdine University actually cost?

Published tuition is $69,918 for in-state students and $69,918 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $21,750 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $58,098 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Pepperdine University

Will my child graduate from Pepperdine University?

These predict outcomes at Pepperdine University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Pepperdine University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Pepperdine University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Pepperdine University confers roughly 658 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $91,408 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Pepperdine University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Pepperdine University disclosed 14 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Pepperdine University?

About 61% of undergraduates at Pepperdine University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 24% of men join a fraternity and 34% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in California parents ask about

• Chapman University
  65% acceptance
• Saint Mary's College of California
  87% acceptance
• California State University-Chico
  93% acceptance
• Sonoma State University
  93% acceptance
• California State University-East Bay
  97% acceptance
• California State University-San Bernardino
  94% acceptance
• California State University-Dominguez Hills
  93% acceptance
• California State University-Stanislaus
  98% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Pepperdine University