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Loyola Marymount UCLA Stanford Chapman NYU USD Pomona Claremont McKenna Cornell UC Berkeley UCSD Notre Dame| Pepperdine University | University of Southern California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 10,030 | 48,945 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #127 | #34 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pepperdine.edu | usc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,390 | $63,468 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,390 | $63,468 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,560 | $17,436 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $47,804 | $36,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,348 | $45,262 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 71% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,466 | 69,062 | ||
| Admitted | 5,585 | 8,304 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 48.7% | 12% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.9% | 41.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1285/1480 | 1450/1550 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $71,700 | $85,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $22,375 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $231 |
Diversity |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 47% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 10% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 45% | 42% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 43% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Pepperdine | USC | ||
| 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
- University of Southern California is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 10,030 students)
Pepperdine vs. USC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or USC?
- University of Southern California is 1.7% more expensive to attend than Pepperdine for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $62,390.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.7% higher at USC than Pepperdine University ($63,468.00 vs. $62,390.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern California than Pepperdine ($36,808 vs. $47,804)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 6.4% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($17,436 vs. $18,560)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than University of Southern California (94% vs. 71%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 39.9% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($45,262 vs. $32,348)
Pepperdine vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or Pepperdine .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 165 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
- Incoming USC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Pepperdine (28)
- Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Pepperdine (3.74)
- Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (48.7%) than USC (12%)
Pepperdine vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pepperdine or USC? 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 USC and Pepperdine.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than Pepperdine University (90% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $13,800 more per year than Pepperdine graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $71,700)
- University of Southern California students graduate with a $3,625 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($22,375 vs. $26,000)
- USC graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($231 vs. $268)
- More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/