Pepperdine vs. Clarkson

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

 Pepperdine Clarkson
Location Malibu, CA Potsdam, NY
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 9,545 3,603
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #143 #183
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pepperdine.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Pepperdine Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $65,990 $56,642
Tuition (Out of State) $65,990 $56,642
Room & Board $23,270 $17,016
Avg Net Price $52,216 $33,192
Avg Grant Aid $32,986 $43,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

 Pepperdine Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,457 7,347
Admitted 6,210 5,669
Acceptance Rate 49.9% 77.2%
Enrolled % 11.8% 10.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/32 26/31
SAT Range 1250/1450 1198/1390
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 Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 Pepperdine Clarkson
Graduation Rate 81% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,700 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

 Pepperdine Clarkson
% Men 18% 17%
% Women 44% 13%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 47% 84%
% Black 6% 2%
% Hispanic 16% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 10% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Pepperdine Clarkson
% In-State 55% 65%
% Out-of-State 34% 29%

Campus

 Pepperdine Clarkson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
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 Clarkson based on total student enrollment (9,545 students vs. 3,603 students)

Pepperdine vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Clarkson?

  • Pepperdine University is 16.5% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.5% higher at Pepperdine than Clarkson University ($65,990.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than Pepperdine ($33,192 vs. $52,216)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 36.8% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($17,016 vs. $23,270)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Pepperdine University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 30.7% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($43,097 vs. $32,986)

Pepperdine vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pepperdine University (1226) is 28 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming Pepperdine students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Clarkson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Pepperdine (3.74)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)

Pepperdine vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pepperdine or Clarkson? 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 Clarkson and Pepperdine.

  • The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than Clarkson University (81% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $900 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $70,800)
  • Pepperdine University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Pepperdine graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 75%)

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