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Loyola Marymount CU Boulder CU Denver Chapman USD Oxy SCU USC UCLA UCSB Colorado State Westmont College| Pepperdine University | University of Denver | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | Denver, CO | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,545 | 13,387 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #143 | #86 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pepperdine.edu | du.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,990 | $58,032 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,990 | $58,032 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,270 | $17,049 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $52,216 | $43,324 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,986 | $32,023 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 99% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,457 | 19,214 | ||
| Admitted | 6,210 | 13,679 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.9% | 71.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.8% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 29/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1450 | 1240/1410 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 78% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $71,700 | $63,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 72% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $23,699 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $245 |
Diversity |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 35% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 47% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 10% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 28% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 69% | ||
Campus |
Pepperdine | DU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Denver is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (13,387 students vs. 9,545 students)
Pepperdine vs. DU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or DU?
- Pepperdine University is 13.7% more expensive to attend than DU for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $58,032.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.7% higher at Pepperdine than University of Denver ($65,990.00 vs. $58,032.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Denver than Pepperdine ($43,324 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Denver are 36.5% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($17,049 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Denver than Pepperdine University (99% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 3% larger than aid received University of Denver ($32,986 vs. $32,023)
Pepperdine vs. DU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or DU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between DU or Pepperdine .
- The average SAT score at University of Denver (1249) is 23 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
- Incoming Pepperdine students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at DU (28)
- Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at DU (3.72)
- DU has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)
Pepperdine vs. DU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pepperdine or DU? 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 DU and Pepperdine.
- The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than University of Denver (81% vs. 78%)
- Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $8,300 more per year than DU graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $63,400)
- University of Denver students graduate with a $2,301 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($23,699 vs. $26,000)
- DU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($245 vs. $268)
- More Pepperdine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 72%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/