Pepperdine vs. Wheaton College

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

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
Location Malibu, CA Wheaton, IL
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,545 2,799
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #143 #156
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ Undenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pepperdine.edu wheaton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
Tuition (In State) $65,990 $43,670
Tuition (Out of State) $65,990 $43,670
Room & Board $23,270 $12,390
Avg Net Price $52,216 $31,346
Avg Grant Aid $32,986 $25,196
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 98%

Admission

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,457 1,866
Admitted 6,210 1,679
Acceptance Rate 49.9% 90%
Enrolled % 11.8% 32.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/32 27/32
SAT Range 1250/1450 1260/1440
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
Graduation Rate 81% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,700 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $232

Diversity

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
% Men 18% 10%
% Women 44% 14%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 47% 76%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 16% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 10% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
% In-State 55% 21%
% Out-of-State 34% 54%

Campus

 Pepperdine Wheaton College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Pepperdine University is larger than than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (9,545 students vs. 2,799 students)

Pepperdine vs. Wheaton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Wheaton College?

  • Pepperdine University is 51.1% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $43,670.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.1% higher at Pepperdine than Wheaton College ($65,990.00 vs. $43,670.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wheaton College than Pepperdine ($31,346 vs. $52,216)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 87.8% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($12,390 vs. $23,270)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Pepperdine University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 30.9% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($32,986 vs. $25,196)

Pepperdine vs. Wheaton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 88 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Pepperdine (28)
  • Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Pepperdine (3.74)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)

Pepperdine vs. Wheaton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pepperdine or Wheaton College? 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 Wheaton College and Pepperdine.

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Pepperdine University (87% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $17,400 more per year than Wheaton College graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $54,300)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($232 vs. $268)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 75%)

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