Can you get into Pepperdine University?
Malibu, CA · Private · 3,553 students Here’s the class that got in. See where your numbers land in it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
Here’s what it took to get in.
Acceptance rate
62.9%
SAT middle 50%
1290–1450
median 1350
ACT middle 50%
29–32
median 28
Testing
Optional
16% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
84%
within six years
Reported by the college
What does Pepperdine University actually read?
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It’s the most useful thing they say about admissions. Almost nobody reads it. Say the essay counts a lot here and class rank doesn’t count at all. That tells you where to put your work.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Grades
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Recommendations
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Test scores
- Legacy
- Work experience
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Class rank
From the federal IPEDS admissions survey, 2024. It records whether Pepperdine University considers each factor, but not how heavily, and it doesn’t ask about extracurriculars, character, or demonstrated interest. Where a school publishes its Common Data Set, Spike uses that instead.
Real cost · 2024 data
What do families actually pay?
The sticker price is $93,512. Almost nobody pays it. Here’s what families pay at Pepperdine University by income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$50,560
- $30k–$48k$42,674
- $48k–$75k$51,063
- $75k–$110k$61,851
- Over $110k$65,081
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price a year for first-time students who got aid. Your own number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
Keep reading about Pepperdine University.
Harder to get into
About as selective
Common questions
What do students ask about Pepperdine University?
What’s Pepperdine University’s acceptance rate?
Pepperdine University admits 62.9% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for Pepperdine University?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1290 and 1450. A score above 1450 clears the 75th percentile. Below 1290, the rest of your application has to do more of the work, or you can apply test-optional.
Is Pepperdine University test-optional?
Yes, Pepperdine University is currently test-optional. Send a score if it lands in or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does Pepperdine University look for in an application?
Pepperdine University says it weighs grades, course rigor, essay, recommendations most heavily. What it lists as not considered is worth knowing too. Work you put there doesn’t count here.
How much does Pepperdine University actually cost?
The sticker price is $93,512. The average family pays $58,098 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $50,560 a year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the Pepperdine University read in your plan.
Spike ties your numbers to your courses, testing, essays, and activities. It does the same for the rest of your college list.
The full counselor launches in November.