National university
#17 Best colleges in the Los Angeles areaPepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $58,098 a year
Median debt at graduation: $23,510 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#50 of 950
- Best colleges for accounting in America#66 of 1,132
- Best colleges for business in America#116 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#98 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#59 of 744
- Best colleges for education in America#106 of 1,318
Show 16 more
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#156 of 1,829
- Best colleges in America#184 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#149 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#158 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#151 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#148 of 1,283
- Best mid-size colleges in America#80 of 667
- Best colleges for history in America#151 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#145 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#154 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#152 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#150 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#146 of 1,063
- Best colleges for economics in America#149 of 788
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#87 of 367
- Best colleges in the Los Angeles area#17 of 69
In California
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in California#5 of 49
- Best mid-size colleges in California#5 of 36
- Best colleges for education in California#9 of 56
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in California#23 of 128
- Best colleges for finance in California#4 of 22
- Best colleges for business in California#18 of 88
Show 6 more
- Best colleges in California#27 of 128
- Best colleges for accounting in California#9 of 42
- Best test-optional colleges in California#23 of 100
- Best colleges for psychology in California#18 of 74
- Best colleges for art and design in California#19 of 75
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in California#18 of 70
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.83%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.88%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,384 · ACT 30.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.12 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$10,390
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $93,512 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,629 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 40% · Women 60% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 18% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 39% |
| Total students | 9,545 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $58,098 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $93,512 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $23,510 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 83% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 85% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 83% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 74% |
| First-year retention | 88% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $82,939 |
| Admission rate | 63% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $65 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 20% |
| Average SAT | 1384 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 650–710 |
| SAT math | 640–740 |
| ACT composite | 29–32 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Solid (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Economics | |
| International business | |
| Business administration | |
| Public relations | |
| Political science | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Global studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Journalism | |
| Broadcasting | |
| Theatre |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Accounting, Area studies, Arts management, Biology, Chemistry, Clinical and counseling psychology, Communication studies, English, Ethnic and gender studies, Film and video, Finance, Fine arts, German, History, Information technology, Interdisciplinary studies, Liberal arts, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Music, Natural Sciences, Nutrition Sciences, Philosophy, Physics, Religious studies, Romance languages, Secondary education, Sociology, Sustainability Studies, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Communication | |
| Psychology | |
| Social sciences | |
| Parks, recreation and fitness |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 5% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 3% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $21,750 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · West Coast Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 12 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 14%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 47%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $166,353IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 70% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)About 18 miles away |
| Town population | 10,421Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | Los AngelesAbout 17 miles away |
| Typical weather | 56°F in January · 65°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Santa Monica Pier, CA, about 12 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.01 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Pepperdine University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 11% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Pepperdine University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $58,098 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Pepperdine University?
- Pepperdine University admitted 63% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Pepperdine University’s graduates do?
- 83% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $82,939; the median federal debt at graduation is $23,510.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 121150
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Churches of Christ
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