Pepperdine vs. Fordham

Deciding between Pepperdine University and Fordham University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Pepperdine University
Fordham University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pepperdine Malibu, CA
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • Pepperdine Rural Fringe
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pepperdine 8,976
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • Pepperdine Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pepperdine #162
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pepperdine Churches of Christ
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Pepperdine Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pepperdine
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • Pepperdine $21,750
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • Pepperdine $66,585
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pepperdine $26,927
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pepperdine 91%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pepperdine 11,526
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • Pepperdine 7,245
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pepperdine 62.9%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Pepperdine 11.6%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pepperdine 1370
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pepperdine 30
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pepperdine 3.74
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pepperdine A-
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pepperdine Very High
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pepperdine Low
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pepperdine 29/32
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Pepperdine 1290/1450
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pepperdine Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pepperdine 12:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pepperdine
    • Business (27%)
    • Communication (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pepperdine 81%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pepperdine $71,700
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pepperdine 75%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pepperdine $26,000
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pepperdine $268
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pepperdine 33%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • Pepperdine 67%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pepperdine High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • Pepperdine No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • Pepperdine 47%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • Pepperdine 12%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • Pepperdine 6%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pepperdine 16%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pepperdine 5%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • Pepperdine 10%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pepperdine 4%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pepperdine 51%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pepperdine 38%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Pepperdine Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Pepperdine No
  • Fordham No
  • Meal Plan
  • Pepperdine Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Pepperdine Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Pepperdine No
  • Fordham No

Comparable Facts

Compare Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA with Fordham University in Bronx, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fordham University is larger than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 8,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
  • Pepperdine University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Pepperdine University 12:1; Fordham University 14:1.

Pepperdine vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Fordham? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fordham University than Pepperdine ($48,190 vs. $66,585).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pepperdine University are 9.7% lower than at Fordham University ($21,750 vs. $24,090).
  • Pepperdine University is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $5,003 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Pepperdine than at Fordham University (about $5,003 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Pepperdine University (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 33.7% larger than aid received by Pepperdine University students ($35,988 vs. $26,927).

Pepperdine vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or Fordham? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fordham and Pepperdine.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fordham University (1400) is 30 points higher than at Pepperdine (1370).
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Pepperdine).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pepperdine University 1290/1450; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pepperdine University 29/32; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pepperdine - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (62.9%) than Fordham (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.6% at Pepperdine vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

Pepperdine vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pepperdine and Fordham? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Pepperdine University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Pepperdine University earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,700 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fordham University and Pepperdine graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Fordham University and Pepperdine graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.