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George Washington Loyola Marymount Chapman USD Georgetown Oxy SCU USC Fordham Syracuse UCLA UCSB| Pepperdine University | American University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | Washington, DC | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,545 | 13,019 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #143 | #84 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pepperdine.edu | american.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,990 | $55,724 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,990 | $55,724 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,270 | $17,012 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $52,216 | $40,189 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,986 | $31,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 62% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,457 | 17,786 | ||
| Admitted | 6,210 | 8,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.9% | 47.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.8% | 22% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1450 | 1300/1450 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $71,700 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $250 |
Diversity |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 25% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 47% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 2% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 94% | ||
Campus |
Pepperdine | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 9,545 students)
Pepperdine vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or AU?
- Pepperdine University is 18.4% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.4% higher at Pepperdine than American University ($65,990.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Pepperdine ($40,189 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 36.8% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($17,012 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than American University (91% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 5% larger than aid received American University ($32,986 vs. $31,402)
Pepperdine vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or Pepperdine .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 26 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
- Incoming Pepperdine students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at AU (28)
- Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at AU (3.7)
- Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than AU (47.4%)
Pepperdine vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pepperdine or AU? 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 AU and Pepperdine.
- The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than American University (81% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $6,900 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $64,800)
- American University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,000)
- AU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($250 vs. $268)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/