Pepperdine vs. SCU

Deciding between Pepperdine University and Santa Clara 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
Santa Clara University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pepperdine Malibu, CA
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Setting
  • Pepperdine Rural Fringe
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pepperdine 8,976
  • SCU 9,728
  • Type
  • Pepperdine Private 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pepperdine #162
  • SCU #61
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pepperdine Churches of Christ
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Pepperdine Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pepperdine
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • SCU $61,293
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • SCU $61,293
  • Room & Board
  • Pepperdine $21,750
  • SCU $19,893
  • Average Net Price
  • Pepperdine $66,585
  • SCU $53,883
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pepperdine $26,927
  • SCU $28,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pepperdine 91%
  • SCU 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pepperdine 11,526
  • SCU 18,970
  • Admitted
  • Pepperdine 7,245
  • SCU 9,105
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pepperdine 62.9%
  • SCU 48%
  • Enrolled
  • Pepperdine 11.6%
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pepperdine 1370
  • SCU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pepperdine 30
  • SCU 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pepperdine 3.74
  • SCU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pepperdine A-
  • SCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pepperdine Very High
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pepperdine Low
  • SCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pepperdine 29/32
  • SCU 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Pepperdine 1290/1450
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pepperdine Test optional
  • SCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pepperdine 12:1
  • SCU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pepperdine
    • Business (27%)
    • Communication (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pepperdine 81%
  • SCU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pepperdine $71,700
  • SCU $81,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pepperdine 75%
  • SCU 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pepperdine $26,000
  • SCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pepperdine $268
  • SCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pepperdine 33%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Women
  • Pepperdine 67%
  • SCU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pepperdine High
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • Pepperdine No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • Pepperdine 47%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Asian
  • Pepperdine 12%
  • SCU 16%
  • % Black
  • Pepperdine 6%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pepperdine 16%
  • SCU 17%
  • % Native American
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pepperdine 5%
  • SCU 7%
  • % International
  • Pepperdine 10%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pepperdine 4%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pepperdine 51%
  • SCU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pepperdine 38%
  • SCU 36%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Clara University is larger than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 8,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Clara University is in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Pepperdine University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Pepperdine University 12:1; Santa Clara University 11:1.

Pepperdine vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or SCU? 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 Santa Clara University than Pepperdine ($53,883 vs. $66,585).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 8.5% lower than at Pepperdine University ($19,893 vs. $21,750).
  • Pepperdine University is 14.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $8,625 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Pepperdine than at Santa Clara University (about $8,625 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pepperdine University than at Santa Clara University (91% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Clara University students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Pepperdine University students ($28,368 vs. $26,927).

Pepperdine vs. SCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or SCU? 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 SCU and Pepperdine.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 50 points higher than at Pepperdine (1370).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Pepperdine).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pepperdine University 1290/1450; Santa Clara University 1350/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pepperdine University 29/32; Santa Clara University 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pepperdine - Test optional; SCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027; SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (62.9%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.6% at Pepperdine vs. 17.7% at SCU.

Pepperdine vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pepperdine and SCU? 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).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Pepperdine University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Pepperdine graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $71,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Pepperdine graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pepperdine graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More SCU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.