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EarningsPlus
Economic score
Pepperdine University is a private national university located in Malibu, California. Pepperdine University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Pepperdine University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $72,035 10 years after enrolling, 18th in California, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Pepperdine University bachelor students earn 18% more than the national average. Pepperdine University is ranked 45th in California.
Pepperdine University’s median net annual cost of $38,846 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Pepperdine University sorted by number of graduates - Business Administration, Advertising & PR, Psychology, Health & Fitness, Economics, International studies - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$38,846
Average years to graduate
4.2
Accounting
Rank: #191
Economic score: 2.26
International Business
Rank: #41
Economic score: 3.1
Finance
Rank: #319
Economic score: 5.21
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #124
Economic score: 6.36
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #313
Economic score: 7.01
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #82
Economic score: 10.28
Journalism
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 11.88
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #429
Economic score: 12.33
Ethnic/Gender studies
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 25.62
Rhetoric & Composition
Rank: #67
Economic score: 37.7
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Pepperdine University - Business Administration, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Psychology, Dispute Resolution., HR Management, Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Public Policy Analysis
Rank: #17
Economic score: 0.69
Educ. Administration
Rank: #376
Economic score: 1.18
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 85% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Pepperdine University is 18% higher than the state average, and 18% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Pepperdine University, Pell Grant recipients represent 19% of the measured graduating class, 16% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Pepperdine University graduates within 4.2 years.
Pepperdine University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Pepperdine University’s economic mobility score of 11.9 is calculated by adjusting the 2.87 economic score of lower-income students by the 19% pell grant recipients within the student body. Pepperdine University’s EMS of 11.9 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Pepperdine University pays $38,846 a year, $39,066 less than the $77,912 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $38,846
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Pepperdine University, 96% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $38,846 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 41% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,724. This is 13% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,171
Pell grants
$4,698
State grants
$8,737
Institutional grants
$34,045
Pepperdine University offers 1 hybrid bachelor program. At the master’s level Pepperdine University offers 13 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
14
Hybrid programs
13
Percentage of programs online
15%
Pepperdine University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 53% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 11,855 applicants, of which 6,249 were admitted and 1,024 enrolled. Pepperdine University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
91%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
71%
59%
In-state
46%
68%
1st generation
18%
35%
White
48%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
16%
15%
Asian
12%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
19%
12%