Pepperdine Rankings and Evaluation
National Universities
#52 in National Universities
California Colleges
#12 in California Colleges
Pepperdine University is ranked 52nd in National Universities and 12nd in California Colleges.
The following statements evaluate Pepperdine University by comparing key academic facts to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
- Its tuition & fees of $69,918 is very expensive compared to similar schools.
- The acceptance rate (63%) is average.
- The SAT & ACT scores (1,370 SAT, 31 ACT) is higher (competitive score).
- It has very large number of students of 8,976.
- The financial aid amount ($34,751) is lower.
- It offers very diverse area of study (94 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of Pepperdine are $69,918 and it is very expensive compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University $69,918
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $26,737
4-Years Colleges $22,926
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California $27,917
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees of Pepperdine are $44,056 and it is very expensive compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University $44,056
All U.S. Colleges $18,842
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $18,688
4-Years Colleges $18,848
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California $23,169
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate of Pepperdine is 63% and it is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 63%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 66%
4-Years Colleges 68%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 60%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)
The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of Pepperdine is 12% and the yield is much lower (admitted, but not enrolled) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 12%
All U.S. Colleges 37%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 35%
4-Years Colleges 35%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 32%
SAT Scores
The average SAT score submitted by enrolled students at Pepperdine is 1,370 and it is higher (competitive score) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 1,370
All U.S. Colleges 1,123
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 1,132
4-Years Colleges 1,124
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 1,178
ACT Scores
The average ACT score submitted by enrolled students at Pepperdine is 31 and it is lower compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 31
All U.S. Colleges 68
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 69
4-Years Colleges 68
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 75
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at Pepperdine is 83% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 83%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 56%
4-Years Colleges 51%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 63%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at Pepperdine is 88% and it is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 88%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 74%
4-Years Colleges 73%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 76%
Student Population
The total student population at Pepperdine is 8,976 and its population very large compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 8,976
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 2,477
4-Years Colleges 4,686
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 2,024
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at Pepperdine is $34,751 which is 49.70% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is lower compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University $34,751
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $16,488
4-Years Colleges $12,161
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California $17,459
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at Pepperdine is 12 to 1 and the ratio is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 12 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 12 to 1
4-Years Colleges 14 to 1
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 11 to 1
Number of Programs
Pepperdine offers 94 programs and it means very diverse area of study compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.
Pepperdine University 94
All U.S. Colleges 37
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 45
4-Years Colleges 58
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California 32
Number of Online Programs
Pepperdine offers 5 online programs and it means limited online classes compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in California.