Quad

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CAQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavyFaith-centered
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 640–720 (fall 2024: 650–710)Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 600–710 (fall 2024: 640–740)Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 28–32 (fall 2024: 29–32)Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025–26

Source:Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

7 in 10 applicants admitted

Pepperdine admits about 7 in 10 applicants (67%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 68% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

67%

67%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

14,239

Admitted

9,592

Yield

12%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.57

SAT middle 50%

1240–1410

10001600
ACT middle 50%

28–32

1836
Applications +29% since fall 2014 · admit rate 35% → 63%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,553 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.6K

undergrads · larger than 72% of colleges

Diversity index

0.74

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

18%

below the median

Large suburbNCAA D-I · West Coast ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.74 → 0.74 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (17% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 47% of faculty are full-time. Spends $10,390 a year on instruction per student.

12 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 59% of colleges

Most popular major

Business Administration and Management, General

17% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Economics

$104.9K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

47%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$10.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $69,013 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $44.7K more than the national median. The 91% who received grants paid $66,585 on average; the other 9% paid the full sticker price of $93,512.

26%

$69K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $44.7K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$93,512 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
41% · avg $17K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 26% of full price

Federal loans

37%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +51% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $82,939 ten years after enrolling, more than at 93% of colleges; 84% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 3.3 years of that salary.

84%

84%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$82.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23.5K

≈ $249/month for 10 years

Retention

88%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 84% → 83% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 16% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 51%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 29% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 35% to 63%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +51% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +29%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 35% → 63% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.74 → 0.74

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

63% admit · SAT 1443 · 5.7K undergrads

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Hofstra University

68% admit · SAT 1315 · 6.5K undergrads

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Chapman University

65% admit · SAT 1350 · 7.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso West
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Pratt Institute-Main

73% admit · SAT 1270 · 3.9K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Pepperdine University (Fall 2025)

    Pepperdine University · Fall 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-03

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Pepperdine University · Fall 2025; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Pepperdine University (2026)

    Pepperdine University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 121150 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything