- Acceptance rate: 63% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 650–710 reading and writing, 640–740 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 29–32 composite
- Average net price: $52,216 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Calculate your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Pepperdine University reported: an acceptance rate of 63% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 29–32.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Pepperdine University reviews each application.
Pepperdine University GPA requirements
Pepperdine University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Pepperdine University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Pepperdine University acceptance rate
Pepperdine University admitted 7,245 of 11,526 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 63%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Pepperdine University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Malibu, California, with 3,553 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Pepperdine University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 650 | 680 | 710 |
| SAT Math | 640 | 690 | 740 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 31 | 32 |
| ACT English | 30 | 33 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 27 | 28 | 32 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1384 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Pepperdine University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Pepperdine University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $52,216 a year at Pepperdine University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get into Pepperdine University?
Somewhat: more than half of applicants got in. Pepperdine University admitted 63% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Can I get into Pepperdine University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Pepperdine University admitted 63% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is the acceptance rate at Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University's acceptance rate was 63% for fall 2024: it admitted 7,245 of 11,526 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA does Pepperdine University look for?
Pepperdine University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How important is GPA for getting into Pepperdine University?
A lot: Pepperdine University requires high school GPA, high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, college preparatory program, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What SAT and ACT scores do Pepperdine University students have?
The middle 50% of Pepperdine University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 650–710 in reading and writing and 640–740 in math; ACT composite 29–32, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does Pepperdine University require the SAT or ACT?
Check Pepperdine University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Pepperdine University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 18% sent SAT scores and 10% sent ACT scores.
What do students pay at Pepperdine University after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $52,216 a year at Pepperdine University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Pepperdine University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Pepperdine University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Pepperdine University consider legacy status?
No. Pepperdine University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Pepperdine University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Pepperdine UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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