Pepperdine University
Malibu, California · Private, a large suburb · 3,553 undergraduates
Affiliated with Churches of Christ.
Is it hard to get into Pepperdine?
The middle half of admitted students scored in these ranges: a quarter scored lower, a quarter higher. Fall 2024 admissions, from the College Scorecard.
- What they look at
- High school GPARequired
- Courses takenRequired
- RecommendationsRequired
- EssayRequired
How much does Pepperdine cost?
Sticker prices and what students actually paid after grants, by family income. A year means tuition, fees, room, board, books and other costs.
What a year cost, by family income
| Family income | Average paid after grants |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $38,093 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $35,990 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $38,110 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $42,539 |
| Over $110,000 | $63,600 |
- Room and board on campus
- $22,480 a year; $22,590 off campus
- Books and supplies
- $1,000 a year
- The school's own grants
- 89% of full-time first-years get one, averaging $30,613
Tuition over the years
Tuition and fees for a year, as reported to the federal government.
How much do Pepperdine students borrow?
Federal student loans only, for students who borrowed.
What do Pepperdine graduates earn?
Typical yearly pay of everyone who started here with federal aid, whatever they studied and whether or not they finished.
Do Pepperdine students finish?
Of the students who started full time, first time.
Who goes to Pepperdine?
- Background
- White 44%, Hispanic 19%, Black 4%, Asian 15%, Two or more 7%, International 8%
- Housing
- Campus housing, 2,545 beds
What do Pepperdine graduates earn, by program?
Every bachelor's program the school awards, with what its graduates earn and owe. The government hides pay for small programs, so some rows have no figure.
Business and commerce
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 27 | $82,200 | $110,144 | Hidden |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 374 | $72,989 | $92,134 | $23,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 44 | Hidden | Hidden | $20,500 |
| International Business | 35 | $64,447 | $103,987 | Hidden |
Health sciences and kinesiology
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 121 | $28,994 | $73,873 | $20,224 |
Life sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 97 | $34,846 | $78,319 | $19,705 |
Math and physical sciences
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 5 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Mathematics | 10 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Physics | 17 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Arts and humanities
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General | 6 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| History | 15 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Philosophy | 21 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 9 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 27 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Education (teaching)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 0 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 11 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Fine and performing arts
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 27 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 38 | Hidden | $67,409 | $18,350 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 17 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 27 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Music | 19 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
General arts and science (major chosen later)
| Program | Graduates | Pay, one year out | Pay, five years out | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International/Globalization Studies | 28 | $43,900 | $82,225 | Hidden |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 19 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 29 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 12 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Natural Sciences | 12 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Nutrition Sciences | 14 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
| Sustainability Studies | 9 | Hidden | Hidden | Hidden |
Compare Pepperdine with other universities
Side by side: acceptance rates, scores, costs and pay.
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Test policy: the school's page (opens in a new tab). Tuition history, housing and the school's own grants: the federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) survey.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with Pepperdine University. Figures describe past students; check the school's own pages before you apply.
Social sciences