Pepperdine vs. San Jose State

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

Pepperdine San Jose State
Location Malibu, CA San Jose, CA
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 10,030 35,751
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #127 #558
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pepperdine.edu sjsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pepperdine San Jose State
Tuition (In State) $62,390 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $62,390 $17,622
Room & Board $18,560 $18,568
Avg Net Price $47,804 $14,219
Avg Grant Aid $32,348 $9,210
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 59%

Admission

Pepperdine San Jose State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,466 34,002
Admitted 5,585 26,083
Acceptance Rate 48.7% 76.7%
Enrolled % 16.9% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.35
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/32 19/26
SAT Range 1285/1480 1010/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Dec 15, 2024

Academics

Pepperdine San Jose State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Pepperdine San Jose State
Graduation Rate 81% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,700 $59,900
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $155

Diversity

Pepperdine San Jose State
% Men 33% 48%
% Women 67% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 47% 19%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 16% 26%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 10% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Pepperdine San Jose State
% In-State 45% 96%
% Out-of-State 43% 1%

Campus

Pepperdine San Jose State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • San Jose State University is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (35,751 students vs. 10,030 students)

Pepperdine vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or San Jose State?

  • Pepperdine University is 986.6% more expensive to attend than San Jose State for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 254% higher at Pepperdine than San Jose State University ($62,390.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Jose State University than Pepperdine ($14,219 vs. $47,804)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pepperdine University are 0% lower than costs at San Jose State University ($18,560 vs. $18,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than San Jose State University (94% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 251.2% larger than aid received San Jose State University ($32,348 vs. $9,210)

Pepperdine vs. San Jose State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Pepperdine University (1226) is 171 points higher than at San Jose State (1055)
  • Incoming Pepperdine students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at San Jose State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at San Jose State (3.35)
  • San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (76.7%) than Pepperdine (48.7%)

Pepperdine vs. San Jose State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pepperdine or San Jose State? 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 San Jose State and Pepperdine.

  • The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than San Jose State University (81% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $11,800 more per year than San Jose State graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $59,900)
  • San Jose State University students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($15,000 vs. $26,000)
  • San Jose State graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($155 vs. $268)
  • More Pepperdine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 73%)

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