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Pepperdine University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate

📍 Malibu, CA🏛️ Private university📝 Test-optional

Located in Malibu, California, this private university enrolls about 10,000 students and admits roughly 63% of applicants. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1290–1450 on the SAT. Business and marketing is the most popular major at 28% of degrees awarded. Graduates earn a median of $82,939 ten years after enrollment, with an 83% six-year graduation rate.

Acceptance rate
62.9%
Enrollment
10,030
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
83%

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Admitted Student Profile

The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.

SAT (combined)
1290 – 1450
ACT (composite)
29 – 32
GPA
Not published

$ What You'll Actually Pay

Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).

$0–30k
$50,560
family income
$30–48k
$42,674
family income
$48–75k
$51,063
family income
$75–110k
$61,851
family income
$110k+
$65,081
family income
20% receive Pell grants
37% take federal loans

Strongest Programs

The fields Pepperdine University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.

Business & Marketing
28.5%
Communications
12.2%
Psychology
10.9%
Social Sciences
10.6%
Multi/Interdisciplinary
8.8%

Outcomes

School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.

Earnings (10 yr)
$82,939
Earnings (6 yr)
$64,934
Completion
83%
Retention
88%
Median debt
$23,510

? Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Pepperdine University?

Pepperdine University has an acceptance rate of 62.9%, making it relatively accessible.

What SAT score do you need for Pepperdine University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1290 and 1450 on the SAT. The ACT range is 29–32.

How much does Pepperdine University actually cost?

After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $50,560 per year, rising to $65,081 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.

What are my chances of getting into Pepperdine University?

Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.

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Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.