University

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

Institution type: Private, nonprofit
Campus setting: Suburban
Application platforms: Not available
Testing policy: Not available
In-state tuition: $69,918
Out-of-state tuition: $69,918
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,553

Website

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2025–2026 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

69.4%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 3,459 students
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable full-time undergraduate subtotal in the reviewed copy.
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable part-time undergraduate subtotal in the reviewed copy.

Majors

Accounting and Related Services
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Area Studies
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Visual and Performing Arts
Biology, General
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Chemistry
Physical Sciences
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Psychology
Communication and Media Studies
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

Deadlines

Early decision · 2026–2027
2026-11-01 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Early decision II · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf

Supplemental essays

How many responses?

1 required Pepperdine essay; 300–500 words

Pepperdine requires the Common App personal essay plus this Pepperdine-specific question.

2026–2027

Required · First-year applicants
Pepperdine is a Christian university where all are welcomed and encouraged to challenge each other in the pursuit of truth. Students, faculty, and staff members from all backgrounds participate in conversations of faith inside and outside of the classroom. Considering that Pepperdine is a Christian university, why are you interested in attending and how would you contribute to conversations of faith on campus?
Limit: 500 words — Required Pepperdine supplemental response; 300–500 words.
https://admission.pepperdine.edu/apply/undergraduate/first-year-applicants.htm

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $70
First-year U.S. application fee listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: Accepted
Common App fee-waiver availability listed in the 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Personal essay · Required
The Common App personal essay is marked required in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Supplemental essays · Required

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Secondary source · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year deadlines; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year fee, waiver, and personal-essay fields; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Official source
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?121150
Retrieved 2026-06-10

First-year admission

First-year applications (C1): 13,445 applicants
First-year students admitted (C1): 9,331 students
First-year students enrolled (C1): 999 students
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable GPA distribution in the reviewed copy.
Average high-school GPA (C12): Not reported by institution; The official 2025–2026 CDS source did not expose a verifiable average high-school GPA in the reviewed copy.

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 17%
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 8%
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 640 score
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 720 score
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 600 score
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 710 score
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 28 score
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 32 score

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 12:1; Pepperdine reports a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio on its official CDS page.

Source: Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I8RahoDnYryjUHb0vGnjSUqx9dG5hM_W/view?usp=sharing · Import: cds-2026-09-v113-pepperdine

2024–2025 · earlier reporting cycle

First-year admission rate

62.9%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

First-year admission

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11): Not reported by institution
High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11): Not reported by institution
Average high-school GPA (C12): Not reported by institution
First-year applications (C1): 11,526 applicants; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
First-year students admitted (C1): 7,245 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
First-year students enrolled (C1): 843 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): Not reported by institution

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 3,553 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 3,390 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 163 students; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 18%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 10%; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 650 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 710 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 640 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 740 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 29 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 32 score; IPEDS 2024 provisional statistic discovered via CollegeData.FYI; verify against the institution CDS

Source: Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2024-2025 (institutional data not reported) · Retrieved 2026-09-02

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: url:https://www.pepperdine.edu/ · Import: cds-2026-09-v85

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

Economics

Social Sciences

English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature/Letters

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Finance and Financial Management Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

International Business

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

International/Globalization Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Journalism

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Computer Science

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Nutrition Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

English Language and Literature/Letters

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Sociology

Social Sciences

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

Sustainability Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Education

Value: 1 required Pepperdine essay; 300–500 words

Pepperdine requires the Common App personal essay plus this Pepperdine-specific question.