Pepperdine University
Malibu, California · Private · 3,553 undergraduates · pepperdine.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
69%
of 13,445 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1240 to 1410
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$103,160Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Pepperdine University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
69% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$103,160
a year in 2027-28, from a $103,160 sticker price
What to do with your 1340
Send your score
About 77% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1190, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- CLT accepted in addition to SAT/ACT (not CLT10 or CLT3-8)
Source: Undergraduate Admission FAQ | Pepperdine Undergraduate Admission · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan15Early Decision II · January 15, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
69%
of applicants were admitted: 9,331 of 13,445 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by Nov 1, hear by Jan 10.
Early Decision
Binding.
Wait list
1,303 students were offered a spot; 670 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 17% of them sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1240 to 1410
Reading and Writing 640 to 720
Math 600 to 710
ACT composite 28 to 32
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160029%
- 1200 to 139956%
- 1000 to 119915%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.57
- 4.08%
- 3.75 to 3.9926%
- 3.50 to 3.7428%
- 3.25 to 3.4922%
- 3.00 to 3.2413%
- 2.50 to 2.992%
- Below 2.501%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$103,160
a year
- Tuition$77,340
- Fees$870
- Food and housing$21,310
- Books and supplies$1,040
- Transportation and other$2,600
Pepperdine University published $99,192 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $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
Financial aid
76%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$41,568
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
34%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $18,152 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: Feb 15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
37 of 37
Earn credit with a score of 3
30 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,730Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 4 | ART 101 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | ART 101 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ARTH 200.01 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 150.01 + waive MATH 140.01 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 150.01 and MATH 151.01 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | MATH 150.01 + waive MATH 140.01 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | CHIN 152.01 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CHIN 251.01 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | CHIN 252.01 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | TPOS 100.01 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | TCOS 100.01 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CS 110.01 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | TCOS 100.01 | |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 | ART 103 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENG 101.01 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | TENG100.01 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| European History | 3 | 4 | THUM 100.01 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | FRE 152.01 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | FRE 251.01 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | FRE 252.01 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | GER 152.01 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | GER 251.01 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | GER 252.01 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 4 | TPOS 100.01 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | ITAL 152.01 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | ITAL 251.01 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | ITAL 252.01 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | JAPN 152.01 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | JAPN 251.01 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | JAPN 252.01 |
| Latin | 3 | 4 | Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 211.01 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 210.01 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 2 | Fine Arts GE |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | Lab Science GE |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 200.01 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | SPAN 152.01 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPAN 251.01 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 4 | SPAN 252.01 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 4 | SPAN 152.01 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPAN 251.01 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 4 | SPAN 252.01 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | COM 240/ ECON 212/ POSC 250/SOC 250/PSYC 250/Math GE |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 4 | POSC 104.01 |
| United States History | 3 | 4 | THIS 100.01 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | HIST 204.01 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 4 | THIS 100.01 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
78%
Come back for a second year
88%
Typical earnings
$89,410
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Pepperdine University$92,134
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 13 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Pepperdine University. The Pepperdine University logo is a trademark of the college.