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Loyola Marymount Lafayette College Lehigh Villanova Chapman University of Richmond USD Colgate Oxy SCU USC Denison| Pepperdine University | Bucknell University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | Lewisburg, PA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 9,545 | 3,892 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #143 | #73 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pepperdine.edu | bucknell.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,990 | $64,418 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,990 | $64,418 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,270 | $16,118 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $52,216 | $38,486 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,986 | $41,211 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 56% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,457 | 11,010 | ||
| Admitted | 6,210 | 3,524 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.9% | 32% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.8% | 29.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.62 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 31/33 | ||
| 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 | Bucknell | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $71,700 | $76,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 47% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 10% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 21% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 74% | ||
Campus |
Pepperdine | Bucknell | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pepperdine University is larger than than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (9,545 students vs. 3,892 students)
Pepperdine vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Bucknell?
- Pepperdine University is 2.4% more expensive to attend than Bucknell for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $64,418.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.4% higher at Pepperdine than Bucknell University ($65,990.00 vs. $64,418.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bucknell University than Pepperdine ($38,486 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 44.4% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($16,118 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than Bucknell University (91% vs. 56%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 24.9% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($41,211 vs. $32,986)
Pepperdine vs. Bucknell Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or Bucknell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bucknell or Pepperdine .
- The average SAT score at Bucknell University (1315) is 89 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
- Incoming Bucknell students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Pepperdine (28)
- Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Bucknell (3.62)
- Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Bucknell (32%)
Pepperdine vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pepperdine or Bucknell? 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 Bucknell and Pepperdine.
- The graduation rate at Bucknell is higher than Pepperdine University (91% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from Bucknell University earn on average $4,600 more per year than Pepperdine graduates after ten years. ($76,300 vs. $71,700)
- Pepperdine University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bucknell graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Pepperdine graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Bucknell graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/