Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Pepperdine University #786 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,873 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pepperdine University sits in the 87.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Pepperdine University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, with earnings that consistently outperform expectations at comparable institutions. These results combine with the university's business-focused program mix to deliver meaningful long-term value.
Azimuth ranks Pepperdine University #786 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Malibu, California, Pepperdine University enrolls roughly 3,553 undergraduates. Retention is 87.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 83.4%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Pepperdine University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Pepperdine University #134 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,459, and earn about $8,873 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pepperdine University in the 84.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Business, which drives strong early-career financial outcomes and aligns with employer demand in Southern California's diversified economy. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Pepperdine University sits in the 41.5 percentile for access and the 1.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 20.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students, reflecting a more selective enrollment posture. As a private institution with a residential campus in a high-cost coastal market, Pepperdine University's sticker price and net-price structure shape its affordability profile relative to public peers, though need-based aid policies work to bridge that gap for admitted students who qualify.
Pepperdine University's published cost of attendance is $93,512. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $50,560, middle-income families pay around $51,063, and higher-income families pay approximately $65,081. Azimuth ranks Pepperdine University #1402 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Pepperdine's aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal loan options. The institution meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students under current financial aid policies, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,510, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $41,309; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $84,459, median federal debt of $23,510 projects to a monthly payment of about $266 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Pepperdine University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, social sciences, and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Malibu, CA. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $84,459, placing Pepperdine University in the 87.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $8,873 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pepperdine University in the 84.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a moderate share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 20.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Pepperdine University in the 98.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 62.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business and social sciences over STEM fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings trajectories and aid packages.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Pepperdine University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Pepperdine University's published cost of attendance is $93,512. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $50,560, middle-income families pay around $51,063, and higher-income families pay approximately $65,081.
Azimuth ranks Pepperdine University #1402 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Pepperdine's aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal loan options. The institution meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students under current financial aid policies, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,510, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $41,309; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $84,459, median federal debt of $23,510 projects to a monthly payment of about $266 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Pepperdine University earn median 4-year earnings of $84,459, placing Pepperdine University in the 87.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,873 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pepperdine University in the 84.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Pepperdine University #134 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Pepperdine University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 218 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $91,227, performing at 1.3x the national benchmark for the field. The Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program graduates 127 students earning $81,417, while Psychology, General with 77 graduates reaches $61,353.
Kinesiology rounds out the top programs with 64 graduates earning $65,100. Business Administration emerges as the highest aggregate-return major, combining substantial enrollment with strong earnings outcomes that drive the institution's overall return profile.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Redlands Higher acceptance rate (31.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 88 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 81% | $72,690 | Compare |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Higher acceptance rate (23.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 51 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 74% | $71,902 | Compare |
Southern California Institute Of Architecture Higher acceptance rate (32.8 percentage points higher) and located 27 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 83% | $71,909 | Compare |
Saint Mary's College Of California Higher acceptance rate (38.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 89% | $78,812 | Compare |
University Of The Pacific Higher acceptance rate (45 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 95% | $78,445 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The College Of Saint Scholastica Similar quality tier (#15817 ranked) | MN | 93% | $65,934 | #15817 | Compare |
Wofford College Similar quality tier (#15808 ranked) | SC | 52% | $68,964 | #15808 | Compare |
Depauw University Similar quality tier (#15819 ranked) | IN | 57% | $70,527 | #15819 | Compare |
Yeshiva University Similar quality tier (#15827 ranked) | NY | 56% | $71,353 | #15827 | Compare |
Elmhurst University Similar quality tier (#15828 ranked) | IL | 74% | $61,462 | #15828 | Compare |
Economics
51 graduates
International Business
24 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
218 graduates
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
127 graduates
Political Science and Government
34 graduates
Pepperdine University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the university's positioning as a private institution with strong employer connections in Southern California. Business Administration is the largest program with 218 graduates, followed by Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Psychology, General, Kinesiology, and Biology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 893 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects concentration in applied professional fields.
Economics leads with median earnings of $104,943 four years after enrollment, followed by International Business at $100,595, Business Administration at $91,227, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at $81,417, and Political Science at $75,954. This clustering in business, finance, and management-adjacent fields aligns with Pepperdine University's curriculum emphasis and the broader Southern California professional services market.
The program portfolio reflects a high-mobility orientation, with most graduates entering the workforce directly in business, finance, and management roles rather than pursuing graduate study. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in professional services and business sectors.
