Pepperdine University

www.pepperdine.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$65,990

5.77% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$52,216

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

49.9%

12,457 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

9,545

62.4% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

84.7%

729 Graduates

About

Pepperdine University is a higher education institution located in Los Angeles County, CA. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Pepperdine University were General Business Administration & Management (582 degrees awarded), Clinical Psychology (554 degrees), and General Psychology (269 degrees).

In 2023, 3,533 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Pepperdine University. 66.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 33.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,481 degrees), 2.39 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (620 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Pepperdine University is $65,990, which is $34,987 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Pepperdine University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 1,655 total borrowers.

Photo by John Beagle

Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Pepperdine University is $65,990, which is $34,987 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $52,216.

In 2023, 92% of undergraduate students attending Pepperdine University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 38% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$65,990

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Pepperdine University was $65,990. The cost of tuition at Pepperdine University is $34,987 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Pepperdine University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$52,216

2023 Value

9.23%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Pepperdine University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $52,216. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Pepperdine University grew by 9.23%.

This chart compares the average net price of Pepperdine University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$18,560

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Pepperdine University was of $18,560 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 11.1% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 20% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Pepperdine University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

92%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

38%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

92% of undergraduate students at Pepperdine University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2022, when 92% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Pepperdine University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Pepperdine University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 1655 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Pepperdine University received 12,457 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 8.64% annual growth. Out of those 12,457 applicants, 6,210 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 49.9% acceptance rate.

There were 9,545 students enrolled at Pepperdine University in 2023. 14% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Pepperdine University has an overall enrollment yield of 11.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

49.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

6,210

Accepted Out of 12,457

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Pepperdine University was 49.9% (6,210 admissions from 12,457 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 48.7%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 8.64%, while admissions grew by 11.2%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Pepperdine University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

14%

Submission Percentage (2023)

106

Scores Submitted (2023)

14% of enrolled first-time students at Pepperdine University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Pepperdine University had a total enrollment of 9,545 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Pepperdine University is 5,953 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,592. This means that 62.4% of students enrolled at Pepperdine University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Pepperdine University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 42.2% White, 21% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 8.39% Black or African American, 5.47% Two or More Races, 0.367% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.335% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Pepperdine University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (27%), followed by White Male (18.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (11.5%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (27.6%), followed by White Male (14.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (12.7%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

62.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Pepperdine University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 9,545 students. The full-time enrollment at Pepperdine University is 5,953 and the part-time enrollment is 3,592. This means that 62.4% of students enrolled at Pepperdine University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Pepperdine University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

86%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Pepperdine University was 86%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Pepperdine University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Pepperdine University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
4,024 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,001 enrolled students
Asian
1,101 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Pepperdine University is 42.2% White, 21% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 8.39% Black or African American, 5.47% Two or More Races, 0.367% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.335% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 273 students (2.86%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 1,141 more women than men received degrees from Pepperdine University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Pepperdine University is white (1,481 degrees awarded). There were 2.39 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (620 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Pepperdine University is General Business Administration & Management (582 degrees awarded), followed by Clinical Psychology (554 degrees) and General Psychology (269 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Pepperdine University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Psychology (1,061 degrees awarded), Legal (277 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (251 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Accountants & auditors

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pepperdine University are Accountants & auditors (1,057,560 people), Other managers (934,981 people), Financial managers (557,255 people), Chief executives & legislators (468,835 people), and Elementary & middle school teachers (363,050 people).

The most specialized majors at Pepperdine University in 2023 are Psychology (1,061 degrees awarded), Legal (277 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (251 degrees), Business (1,190 degrees), and Communications (119 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pepperdine University are Surgeons, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, Chief executives & legislators, and Legal support workers, all other

The most specialized majors at Pepperdine University are Psychology (1,061 degrees awarded), Legal (277 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (251 degrees), Business (1,190 degrees), and Communications (119 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pepperdine University are Elementary & secondary schools (951,963 people), Computer Systems Design (630,577 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (577,618 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (555,266 people), and Banking & related activities (521,200 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Pepperdine University.

Most Common (2023)

General Business Administration & Management
582 degrees awarded
Clinical Psychology
554 degrees awarded
General Psychology
269 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common masters degree concentration at Pepperdine University was General Business Administration & Management with 582 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from masters degree programs at Pepperdine University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,196

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

2,337

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 1,196 degrees were awarded to men at Pepperdine University, which is 0.512 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,337).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Pepperdine University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 393 degrees were awarded to men at Pepperdine University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.02 times more than the 386 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 508 degrees were awarded to men at Pepperdine University in Clinical Psychology, which is 6.86 times more than the 74 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

72%

100% Completion Time

83%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 72% of students graduating from Pepperdine University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 83% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 84% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Pepperdine University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.137% of graduates (1 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
1,481 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
620 degrees awarded
Asian
433 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Pepperdine University is white (1,481 degrees awarded). There were 2.39 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (620 degrees).

5.52% of degree recipients (195 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
972 degrees awarded
White Male
509 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
469 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Pepperdine University is white female (972 degrees awarded). There were 1.91 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (509 degrees).

Operations

Pepperdine University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.22B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 53.2M (4.36%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, Pepperdine University had a total salary expenditure of 494M. Pepperdine University employs 139 Professors, 92 Instructors and 77 Associate professors. Most academics at Pepperdine University are Male Professor (92), Female Instructor (61), and Female Professor (47).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pepperdine University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 271 employees, Management, with 266 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 150 employees.

Endowment

$1.22B

2023 Endowment

1.5%

growth from 2022

Pepperdine University has an endowment valued at about $1.22B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Pepperdine University grew 1.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $785M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Pepperdine University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$4.15M - Federal
$72k - State
$393k - Local

As of 2023, Pepperdine University received $4.15M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $72k from state grants and contracts, and $393k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$184M

2023 Salaries

4.53%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Pepperdine University paid a median of $184M in salaries, which represents 37.3% of their overall expenditure ($494M) and a 4.53% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 10.2% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.74% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$50.4M

Instructional Salaries

402

Number of Employees

In 2023, Pepperdine University paid a total of $50.4M to 402 employees working as instructors, which represents 27.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

139 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

271 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Pepperdine University were Professor with 139 employees, Instructor with 92 employees, and Associate professor with 77 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pepperdine University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 271 employees, Management with 266 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 150 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Instructor
Female Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Pepperdine University was Male Professor with 92 employees, Female Instructor with 61 employees, and Female Professor with 47 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Pepperdine University.

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