Pepperdine University

www.pepperdine.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$57,750

3.79% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$46,550

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

1.82%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

41.9%

11,768 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

9,554

62% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

88.5%

580 Graduates

About

Pepperdine University is a higher education institution located in Los Angeles County, CA. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Pepperdine University were General Business Administration & Management (185 degrees awarded), General Psychology (78 degrees), and International & Global Studies (53 degrees).

In 2020, 2,666 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Pepperdine University. 62.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 37.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,073 degrees), 3.24 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (331 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Pepperdine University is $57,750, which is $29,121 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,629).

Photo by John Beagle

Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Pepperdine University is $57,750, which is $29,121 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,629).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $46,550.

In 2020, 92% of undergraduate students attending Pepperdine University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 40% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$57,750

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Pepperdine University was $57,750. The cost of tuition at Pepperdine University is $29,121 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,629).

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

Average Net Price

$46,550

2020 Value

10.5%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Pepperdine University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $46,550. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Pepperdine University grew by 10.5%.

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

$15,670

Room and Board

$1,250

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Pepperdine University was of $15,670 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,250. The cost of room and board increased by 2.28% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

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

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

92%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

40%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

92% of undergraduate students at Pepperdine University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 4.55% with respect to 2019, when 88% 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.

1.82%

2018 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at Pepperdine University was 1.82%, which represents 32 out of the 1760 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 11,768 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 7.8% annual decline. Out of those 11,768 applicants, 4,925 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 41.9% acceptance rate.

There were 9,554 students enrolled at Pepperdine University in 2020, and 70% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Pepperdine University has an overall enrollment yield of 14.9%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

41.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

4,925

Accepted Out of 11,768

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Pepperdine University was 41.9% (4,925 admissions from 11,768 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 31.7%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants declined by −7.8%, while admissions grew by 21.6%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Pepperdine University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

70%

Submission Percentage

510

Scores Submitted

70% of enrolled first-time students at Pepperdine University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Pepperdine University has a total enrollment of 9,554 students. The full-time enrollment at Pepperdine University is 5,928 students and the part-time enrollment is 3,626. This means that 62% of students enrolled at Pepperdine University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Pepperdine University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 42.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.67% Black or African American, 4.83% Two or More Races, 0.45% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.262% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Pepperdine University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (27.6%), followed by White Male (20.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (9.07%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (24.2%), followed by White Male (15.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (10.8%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

62%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Pepperdine University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 9,554 students. The full-time enrollment at Pepperdine University is 5,928 and the part-time enrollment is 3,626. This means that 62% of students enrolled at Pepperdine University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.4% 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

85%

2020 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 85%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84.5%), 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

White
4,021
Hispanic or Latino
1,687
Asian
994

The enrolled student population at Pepperdine University is 42.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.67% Black or African American, 4.83% Two or More Races, 0.45% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.262% 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 49.8% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.74% 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, 577 students (6.04%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 646 more women than men received degrees from Pepperdine University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Pepperdine University is white (1,073 degrees awarded). There were 3.24 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (331 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Pepperdine University is General Business Administration & Management (185 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (78 degrees) and International & Global Studies (53 degrees).

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 Legal (232 degrees awarded), Psychology (469 degrees), and Math & Statistics (114 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

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 Elementary & middle school teachers (197,640 people), Other managers (144,567 people), Postsecondary teachers (130,264 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (102,833 people), and Social workers, all other (100,813 people).

The most specialized majors at Pepperdine University are Legal (232 degrees awarded), Psychology (469 degrees), Math & Statistics (114 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (27 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (157 degrees).

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, Aerospace engineers, Physicians, and Chief executives & legislators

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 (497,716 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (279,513 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (265,327 people), Outpatient care centers (155,691 people), and Computer Systems Design (148,807 people).

Degrees

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

General Business Administration & Management
185 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
78 degree-majorss awarded
International & Global Studies
53 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Pepperdine University was General Business Administration & Management with 185 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,010

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

1,656

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 1,010 degrees were awarded to men at Pepperdine University, which is 0.61 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,656).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 358 degrees were awarded to men at Pepperdine University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.27 times more than the 283 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 283 degrees were awarded to women at Pepperdine University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.791 times less than the 358 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

73%

100% Completion Time

83%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 73% 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.

Diversity

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 at Pepperdine University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

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, 1.9% of graduates (11 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,073 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
331 degrees awarded
Asian
250 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Pepperdine University is white (1,073 degrees awarded). There were 3.24 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (331 degrees).

8.29% of degree recipients (221 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
660 degrees awarded
White Male
413 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
227 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Pepperdine University is white female (660 degrees awarded). There were 1.6 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (413 degrees).

Operations

Pepperdine University has an endowment valued at nearly $908M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $−NaNM (−0.937%), compared to the 3.48% average return ($10.5M on $302M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2020, Pepperdine University had a total salary expenditure of $416M. Pepperdine University employs 139 Professors, 87 Assistant professors, and 76 Associate professors. Most academics at Pepperdine University are Male Professors (91), Female Professors(48), and Female Assistant professors (48).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pepperdine University are: Management, with 264 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 258 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 141 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$908M

2020 Endowment

1.01%

decline from 2019

Pepperdine University has an endowment valued at about $908M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Pepperdine University declined 1.01% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $606M 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

$6.12M - Federal
$93k - State
$309k - Local

As of 2020, Pepperdine University received $6.12M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $93k from state grants and contracts, and $309k from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$164M

2020 Salaries

3.74%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Pepperdine University paid a median of $164M in salaries, which represents 39.5% of their overall expenditure ($416M) and a 3.74% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.26% growth from 2018 and a 4.35% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 238M (43% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$45.1M

Instructional Salaries

391

Number of Employees

In 2020, Pepperdine University paid a total of $45.1M to 391 employees working as instructors, which represents 27.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $69.9M (29.4%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

139 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

264 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Pepperdine University were Professor with 139 employees; Assistant professor with 87 employees; and Assistant professor with 76 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pepperdine University were Management with 264 employees; Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 258 employees; and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 141 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Assistant professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Pepperdine University was Male Professor with 91 employees, Female Professor with 48 employees, and Female Assistant professor with 48 employees.

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

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