Pepperdine vs. SMU

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

Pepperdine SMU
Location Malibu, CA Dallas, TX
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 10,030 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #127 #67
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pepperdine.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pepperdine SMU
Tuition (In State) $62,390 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $62,390 $55,012
Room & Board $18,560 $17,750
Avg Net Price $47,804 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $32,348 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 73%

Admission

Pepperdine SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,466 16,150
Admitted 5,585 8,439
Acceptance Rate 48.7% 52.3%
Enrolled % 16.9% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/32 31/34
SAT Range 1285/1480 1370/1510
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Pepperdine SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Pepperdine SMU
Graduation Rate 81% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,700 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

Pepperdine SMU
% Men 33% 50%
% Women 67% 50%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 47% 65%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 16% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 10% 8%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Pepperdine SMU
% In-State 45% 38%
% Out-of-State 43% 58%

Campus

Pepperdine SMU
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

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 10,030 students)

Pepperdine vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or SMU?

  • Pepperdine University is 13.4% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.4% higher at Pepperdine than Southern Methodist University ($62,390.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Methodist University than Pepperdine ($45,094 vs. $47,804)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 4.6% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($17,750 vs. $18,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than Southern Methodist University (94% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 9.3% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($35,344 vs. $32,348)

Pepperdine vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 104 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
  • Incoming SMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Pepperdine (28)
  • Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Pepperdine (48.7%)

Pepperdine vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pepperdine or SMU? 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 SMU and Pepperdine.

  • The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than Southern Methodist University (81% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Pepperdine graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $71,700)
  • Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • SMU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)

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