Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Loyola Marymount San Francisco State California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Cal State Long Beach Sacramento State Chapman UC Riverside UCSC Cal State Fullerton USD San Diego State Oxy| Pepperdine University | San Jose State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Pepperdine | San Jose State | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | San Jose, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,545 | 36,062 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #143 | #571 | ||
| 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) | $65,990 | $5,742 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,990 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,270 | $19,866 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $52,216 | $13,833 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,986 | $11,311 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 61% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | San Jose State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,457 | 35,780 | ||
| Admitted | 6,210 | 28,708 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.9% | 80.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.8% | 15.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.35 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1450 | 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, 2026 | Dec 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Pepperdine | San Jose State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 18% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 15% | ||
| 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 | 55% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 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 (36,062 students vs. 9,545 students)
Pepperdine vs. San Jose State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or San Jose State?
- Pepperdine University is 1,049.3% more expensive to attend than San Jose State for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 274.5% higher at Pepperdine than San Jose State University ($65,990.00 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 ($13,833 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose State University are 17.1% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($19,866 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than San Jose State University (91% vs. 61%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 191.6% larger than aid received San Jose State University ($32,986 vs. $11,311)
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 (80.2%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)
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/