California Lutheran University vs. Pepperdine

Should I go to California Lutheran University or Pepperdine University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University 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 Lutheran University vs. Pepperdine University comparison
California Lutheran University Pepperdine University College 3 College 4
California Lutheran University Pepperdine University
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Overview

California Lutheran University Pepperdine
Location Thousand Oaks, CA Malibu, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,615 10,030
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #347 #127
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) $47,500 $62,390
Tuition (Out of State) $47,500 $62,390
Room & Board $15,490 $18,560
Avg Net Price $30,416 $47,804
Avg Grant Aid $30,597 $32,348
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

California Lutheran University Pepperdine
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,150 11,466
Admitted 4,490 5,585
Acceptance Rate 87.2% 48.7%
Enrolled % 13.4% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.74
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/30 28/32
SAT Range 1150/1320 1285/1480
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

California Lutheran University Pepperdine
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

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 43% 33%
% Women 57% 67%
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% 45%
% Out-of-State 17% 43%

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 (10,030 students vs. 3,615 students)

California Lutheran University vs. Pepperdine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Pepperdine?

  • Pepperdine University is 31.3% more expensive to attend than California Lutheran University for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $47,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.3% higher at Pepperdine than California Lutheran University ($62,390.00 vs. $47,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Lutheran University than Pepperdine ($30,416 vs. $47,804)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 19.8% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($15,490 vs. $18,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than Pepperdine University (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 5.7% larger than aid received California Lutheran University ($32,348 vs. $30,597)

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 (87.2%) than Pepperdine (48.7%)

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/