Pepperdine University

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Pepperdine University can be found in Malibu, CA, a nonprofit private college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. There are around nine thousand students enrolled each year at Pepperdine University.

Many of the students getting into Pepperdine University got an SAT score in the range of 1230 to 1450, or got accepted with an ACT composite score between 27 to 32. We were able to estimate the Pepperdine University average GPA (3.55 - 3.78) of admitted students by applying sampled GPA data on over 150 schools. This school has an acceptance rate of about 32% with 18% of applicants deciding to attend. You can get more information from the admissions office website at pepperdine.edu.

Overall Pepperdine University Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

31.7%

The overall acceptance rate for Pepperdine University was reported as 31.7% in Fall 2020 with over 12,800 college applications submitted to Pepperdine University. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • ACT Scores: 27 - 32
  • Average GPA: 3.55 - 3.78

How Hard Is It to Get into Pepperdine University?

Applicant Selectivity: High

The selectivity of applicants for undergraduate admissions to Pepperdine University is considered high, with many applicants scoring in the top percentiles on the SAT or ACT exam, as well as having an excellent high school GPA.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for Pepperdine University has been getting lower when compared to averages from previous years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 36.9%
  • 2017-2018: 39.8%
  • 2018-2019: 35.7%
  • 2019-2020: 31.7%
  • Projected Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 32.6%

How Does Pepperdine University Compare?

31.7%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for Pepperdine University is seventy-nine percent lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
Mount St. Mary's College89.7%
California Lutheran University71.4%
Loyola Marymount University43.8%
Otis College of Art and Design78.2%
California State University-Channel Islands85.8%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • School Records are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants12,76436.0%64.0%
Admitted4,04940.3%59.7%
Enrolled72646.1%53.9%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to Pepperdine University (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading610 - 700
Math620 - 750
Total Score1230 - 1450
ACT®Score Range
English28 - 35
Math25 - 30
Composite Score27 - 32
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.