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Loyola Marymount Chapman USD Oxy SCU USC UCLA UCSB Westmont College PLNU SMU UCI| California Lutheran University | Pepperdine University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
| Location | Thousand Oaks, CA | Malibu, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 3,413 | 9,545 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #359 | #143 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Churches of Christ | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | callutheran.edu | pepperdine.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,880 | $65,990 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,880 | $65,990 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,734 | $23,270 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,080 | $52,216 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,687 | $32,986 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 91% |
Admission |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,290 | 12,457 | ||
| Admitted | 4,702 | 6,210 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.9% | 49.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.2% | 11.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.74 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 26/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1134/1320 | 1250/1450 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,900 | $71,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $268 |
Diversity |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 18% | ||
| % Women | 20% | 44% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 49% | 47% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 34% | ||
Campus |
California Lutheran University | Pepperdine | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pepperdine University is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (9,545 students vs. 3,413 students)
California Lutheran University vs. Pepperdine Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Pepperdine?
- Pepperdine University is 32.3% more expensive to attend than California Lutheran University for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $49,880.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.3% higher at Pepperdine than California Lutheran University ($65,990.00 vs. $49,880.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Lutheran University than Pepperdine ($27,080 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 31.2% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($17,734 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than Pepperdine University (100% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 11.2% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($36,687 vs. $32,986)
California Lutheran University vs. Pepperdine Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, California Lutheran University or Pepperdine? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Pepperdine or California Lutheran University .
- The average SAT score at Pepperdine University (1226) is 117 points higher than at California Lutheran University (1109)
- Incoming Pepperdine students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at California Lutheran University (25)
- Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at California Lutheran University (3.73)
- California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)
California Lutheran University vs. Pepperdine Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, California Lutheran University 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 California Lutheran University.
- The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than California Lutheran University (81% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $13,800 more per year than California Lutheran University graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $57,900)
- California Lutheran University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($23,000 vs. $26,000)
- California Lutheran University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($237 vs. $268)
- More Pepperdine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California Lutheran University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/