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Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA pepperdine.edu 3,629 students

Pepperdine University's main campus sits on 830 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean near Malibu, California. The setting provides a picturesque backdrop for students. The university maintains a Christian atmosphere and offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a law school and business school. Its location allows students easy access to the resources and opportunities of the Los Angeles area.

Programs
12
Analyzed in dataset
Earnings
$39,536
Average graduate, 1 yr after
Tuition
$66,742
Sticker price (est.)

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Pepperdine University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 20% of students receive Pell Grants; 38% take federal loans.

Key Insight

Average net price across income brackets is $41,985, roughly 37% lower than the published tuition.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025
Income Bracket Avg Net Price 4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K $36,463 $145,852
$30K – $48K $38,065 $152,260
$48K – $75K $40,201 $160,804
$75K – $110K $42,253 $169,012
$110K+ $52,946 $211,784
Sticker price (no aid) $66,742 $266,968
Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Pepperdine University

12 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program DW Score 1-yr Earnings AI Risk ROI
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools →
66
$69,751/yr High 2.4x
Economics Compare across schools →
59
$54,267/yr Very High 2.1x
Public Relations & Advertising
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Compare across schools →
48
$45,988/yr High 1.8x
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools →
47
$42,306/yr Very High 2.0x
Health & Physical Education
Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools →
38
$34,388/yr Moderate 1.9x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →
37
$48,398/yr High 1.5x
Journalism Compare across schools →
32
$42,536/yr Very High 0.6x
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools →
26
$20,031/yr High -0.2x
Rhetoric & Writing
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Compare across schools →
24
$33,228/yr Very High 0.2x
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools →
22
$23,438/yr High 1.4x
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Compare across schools →
22
$23,182/yr High 1.2x
International Studies
International/Global Studies Compare across schools →
21
$36,920/yr Moderate 1.2x

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