Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Pepperdine University Featured Rankings
- #1 Christian Colleges in California
- #2 Best CCCU Colleges 2026
- #2 California's Best Online Colleges 2026
- #2 Best Online MBAs California
- #4 The Fastest Accelerated Online Psychology Doctorate Programs (PhDs) 2026
- #5 Most Unusual Doctoral Degrees You Can Earn Online (PhDs)
- #5 Private Colleges in California
- #5 California's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #7 Online Master’s in Human Resources
- #13 Best Christian Colleges 2026
- #13 Research Universities in California 2026
- #14 Grad Schools California 2026
- #15 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees
- #15 Best Colleges in California 2026
- #25 Online MBAs
- #26 Non-GMAT Online MBAs
About Pepperdine University
According to Wikipedia, Pepperdine University is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, California. Founded by entrepreneur George Pepperdine in South Los Angeles in 1937, the school expanded to Malibu in 1972. Courses are now taught at a main Malibu campus, three graduate campuses in Southern California, a center in Washington, D.C., and international campuses in Buenos Aires, Argentina; London, United Kingdom; Heidelberg, Germany; Florence, Italy; and Blonay – Saint-Légier, Switzerland.
Pepperdine University's Online Degrees
BS in Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: 4-5 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Applied Analytics
- Required Credits: 31
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Human Resources
- Required Credits: 39
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MS in Management and Leadership
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2-3 years
- Format: Fully online
MBA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 52
- Completion Time: 3-4 years
- Format: Fully online
Pepperdine University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,457 | 63% | 88% | 78% | 1370 | 30 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Pepperdine University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $72,672 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $38,093 |
| 30K - 48K | $35,990 |
| 48K - 75K | $38,110 |
| 75K - 110K | $42,539 |
| 110K+ | $63,600 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Pepperdine University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Pepperdine University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $89,410 a year, and 92% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Pepperdine University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 11,790 | 3,949 | 7,841 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University is located at 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263.
How Safe is Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University reported 1.2 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most large residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Pepperdine University has a violent crime rate of 0.09% and a property crime rate of 0.03%. Malibu has a violent crime rate of 0.64% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 3.69%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Pepperdine University Known For?
Pepperdine University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Business
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Economics
- Law
- Religious Studies
- Education
- Literature
- History
- Philosophy
- Communications
- Mathematics
- Sociology
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
Pepperdine University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Pepperdine University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Pepperdine University ranks #82 in the U.S. and #210 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesPepperdine University ranks #86 in the U.S. and #169 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesPepperdine University ranks #103 in the U.S. and #342 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesPepperdine University ranks #105 in the U.S. and #421 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesPepperdine University ranks #106 in the U.S. and #294 worldwide for influence in Law.
Pepperdine University ranks #148 in the U.S. and #652 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesPepperdine University ranks #156 in the U.S. and #582 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesPepperdine University ranks #158 in the U.S. and #450 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesPepperdine University ranks #163 in the U.S. and #454 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesPepperdine University ranks #219 in the U.S. and #723 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesPepperdine University ranks #233 in the U.S. and #817 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesPepperdine University ranks #301 in the U.S. and #1177 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesPepperdine University ranks #310 in the U.S. and #1101 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesPepperdine University ranks #397 in the U.S. and #1660 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesPepperdine University ranks #436 in the U.S. and #1978 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesPepperdine University ranks #602 in the U.S. and #2870 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesWho Are Pepperdine University's Most Influential Alumni?
Pepperdine University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Psychology, Business, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Pepperdine University's most famous alumni:
- Michael Shermer
- An American science writer.
- Molefi Kete Asante
- An American academic.
- Christine Blasey Ford
- An American research psychologist.
- Mike Cernovich
- An American writer.
- James Tabor
- A Biblical scholar.
- Steven Barnes
- An American writer and author.
- John Lasseter
- An American animator, film director, screenwriter, producer.
- Michelle Fields
- An American journalist.
- Mike Aamodt
- An American industrial and organizational psychology professor at Radford University.
- Dennis Johnson
- A NBA basketball player .
- Richard de Mille
- An American author.
- J. Richard Chase
- An American historian.
Who Are Pepperdine University's Most Influential Faculty?
Pepperdine University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Psychology, Business, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Pepperdine University's most famous faculty:
- Judy Ho
- A Hostess on 'Face the Truth' tv talkshow..
- Joshua D. Wright
- A Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
- Nicole Forsgren
- An Author, researcher, computer scientist.
- Sean Farnham
- An American sports analyst.
- Maylana Martin
- An American basketball player-coach.
- Kate Paye
- An American basketball player-coach.
- Elan Lee Buller
- A Basketball player .
