Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Loyola Marymount Chapman USD Oxy SCU USC Butler UCLA UCSB Creighton University Westmont College PLNU| Pepperdine University | Drake University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | Des Moines, IA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,545 | 4,504 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #143 | #135 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pepperdine.edu | drake.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,990 | $49,466 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,990 | $49,466 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,270 | $11,858 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $52,216 | $30,886 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,986 | $31,783 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 100% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,457 | 7,741 | ||
| Admitted | 6,210 | 4,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.9% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.8% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1450 | 1190/1390 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $71,700 | $68,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $268 |
Diversity |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 26% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 47% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 56% | ||
Campus |
Pepperdine | Drake | ||
| 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 Drake based on total student enrollment (9,545 students vs. 4,504 students)
Pepperdine vs. Drake Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Drake?
- Pepperdine University is 33.4% more expensive to attend than Drake for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.4% higher at Pepperdine than Drake University ($65,990.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Pepperdine ($30,886 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 96.2% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($11,858 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Pepperdine University (100% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 3.8% larger than aid received Drake University ($32,986 vs. $31,783)
Pepperdine vs. Drake Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or Drake? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drake or Pepperdine .
- The average SAT score at Pepperdine University (1226) is 2 points higher than at Drake (1224)
- Incoming Pepperdine students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Drake (27)
- Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Drake (3.7)
- Drake has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)
Pepperdine vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pepperdine or Drake? 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 Drake and Pepperdine.
- The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than Drake University (81% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $3,200 more per year than Drake graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $68,500)
- Drake University and Pepperdine graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($26,000 vs. $26,000)
- Drake University and Pepperdine graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
- More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/