Caltech vs. Pepperdine

Should I go to California Institute of Technology or Pepperdine University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Caltech or Pepperdine is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Institute of Technology vs. Pepperdine University comparison
California Institute of Technology Pepperdine University College 3 College 4
California Institute of Technology Pepperdine University
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Overview

Caltech Pepperdine
Location Pasadena, CA Malibu, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,401 10,030
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #127
Religious Affiliation - Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu pepperdine.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech Pepperdine
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $62,390
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $62,390
Room & Board $18,606 $18,560
Avg Net Price $20,755 $47,804
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $32,348
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 94%

Admission

Caltech Pepperdine
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 11,466
Admitted 448 5,585
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 48.7%
Enrolled % 50% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.74
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 35/36 28/32
SAT Range 1530/1580 1285/1480
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 3, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Caltech Pepperdine
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

Caltech Pepperdine
Graduation Rate 87% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $71,700
Making Student Loan Payments - 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $148 $268

Diversity

Caltech Pepperdine
% Men 61% 33%
% Women 39% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 47%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

Caltech Pepperdine
% In-State 29% 45%
% Out-of-State 58% 43%

Campus

Caltech Pepperdine
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Pepperdine University is larger than than Caltech based on total student enrollment (10,030 students vs. 2,401 students)

Caltech vs. Pepperdine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Pepperdine?

  • Pepperdine University is 6.7% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.7% higher at Pepperdine than California Institute of Technology ($62,390.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than Pepperdine ($20,755 vs. $47,804)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pepperdine University are 0.2% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($18,560 vs. $18,606)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than California Institute of Technology (94% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 83% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($59,192 vs. $32,348)

Caltech vs. Pepperdine Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Caltech or Pepperdine? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Pepperdine or Caltech .

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 318 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Pepperdine (28)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Pepperdine (3.74)
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (48.7%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. Pepperdine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech or Pepperdine? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Pepperdine and Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at Caltech is higher than Pepperdine University (87% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn on average $14,100 more per year than Pepperdine graduates after ten years. ($85,800 vs. $71,700)
  • California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $11,650 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($14,350 vs. $26,000)
  • Caltech graduates are paying $120 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($148 vs. $268)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/