Pepperdine University
Private nonprofit four-year university in Malibu, CA that costs an average of $48,065 a year after financial aid, admits 63% of applicants and graduates 78% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$48,065
Acceptance rate
63%
Graduation rate
78%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$89,410
Private nonprofitLarge suburb3,553 undergraduates
Cost of Pepperdine University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $95,168 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $72,672 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $22,480 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Average net price after aid | $48,065 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $38,093 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $35,990 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $38,110 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $42,539 |
| $110,001+ | $63,600 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Pepperdine University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 63% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,384 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 650–710 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 640–740 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 29–32 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 78% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 88% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $61,977 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $89,410 |
| Rank in California (earnings) | 24th of 129 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $21,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $244 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 24% |
| Students with federal loans | 40% |
Majors and programs at Pepperdine University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (42)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 27 | $82,200 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 374 | $72,989 | $23,500 |
| International Business | 35 | $64,447 | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 166 | $56,348 | $20,549 |
| Political Science and Government | 74 | $50,528 | $20,000 |
| Economics | 77 | $48,348 | $17,497 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 28 | $43,900 | — |
| Psychology | 181 | $43,066 | $21,500 |
| Biology | 97 | $34,846 | $19,705 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 121 | $28,994 | $20,224 |
| Area Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 27 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 5 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 2 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 31 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 38 | — | $18,350 |
| English Language and Literature | 6 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 17 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 44 | — | $20,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 27 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| History | 15 | — | — |
| Journalism | 22 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 19 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 10 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 29 | — | — |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 12 | — | — |
| Music | 19 | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | 12 | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 14 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 21 | — | — |
| Physics | 17 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 3 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 27 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Sociology | 17 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 11 | — | — |
Certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Dispute Resolution | 57 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 9 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (23)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,142 | $112,921 | $115,263 |
| Dispute Resolution | 259 | $102,386 | $126,536 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 133 | $91,495 | $81,000 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 61 | $66,766 | $41,000 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 212 | $66,623 | $119,067 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 145 | $61,809 | $37,860 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 1,532 | $59,144 | $119,797 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 100 | $58,610 | $41,000 |
| Psychology | 467 | $55,454 | $98,073 |
| Applied Mathematics | 60 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 12 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 9 | — | — |
| International Business | 126 | — | $133,869 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 236 | — | $78,092 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | — | — | — |
| Real Estate | 27 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 25 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 5 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 129 | $102,115 | $184,816 |
| Law | — | $93,519 | $139,618 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | $75,320 | $190,001 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 21 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 16 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 54 | — | — |
| Law | 356 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 12 | — | — |
Similar colleges in California
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biola University | La Mirada | $32,530 | 74% | $64,126 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton | $24,186 | 71% | $88,053 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | $40,555 | 84% | $68,713 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne | $20,523 | 71% | $74,115 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | $22,597 | 88% | $71,595 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | $30,496 | 62% | $94,613 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | $26,445 | 76% | $77,620 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | $29,539 | 52% | $93,069 |
About Pepperdine University
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Malibu, CA |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 3,553 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 12 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Website | pepperdine.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Pepperdine University's acceptance rate?
Pepperdine University admits 63% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,384 on the SAT.
How much does Pepperdine University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $95,168 a year (tuition and fees: $72,672). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $48,065 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $38,093.
How much do Pepperdine University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $89,410 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 24th of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is accounting and related services ($82,200 a year after graduation).
What is Pepperdine University's graduation rate?
78% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 88% of first-year students return for a second year.