The average acceptance rate at Pepperdine over the past 10 years is 43.85%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 62.86%. Compared to the previous year, it became much easier to gain admission to Pepperdine in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 16.54%, and the 2025 yield is 11.64%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 40.95% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Pepperdine applicants decreased by 7.47% (931 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 16.15% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 62.86%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Pepperdine is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 11.64%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Pepperdine. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Pepperdine received approximately 11,526 applications, admitted 7,245 students, and enrolled 843 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Pepperdine is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Pepperdine 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Pepperdine over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 43.85%, while the most recent rate stands at 62.86%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 62.86%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 47.74% and for women is 41.69%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Pepperdine have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 38.10% | 46.22% | 33.92% |
| 2016-17 | 36.87% -1.23% |
43.65% -2.57% |
33.50% -0.42% |
| 2017-18 | 39.85% 2.98% |
44.25% 0.60% |
37.52% 4.03% |
| 2018-19 | 35.65% -4.20% |
41.39% -2.86% |
32.40% -5.13% |
| 2019-20 | 31.72% -3.93% |
35.49% -5.90% |
29.60% -2.80% |
| 2020-21 | 41.85% 10.13% |
46.32% 10.82% |
39.32% 9.72% |
| 2021-22 | 53.00% 11.15% |
52.01% 5.69% |
53.00% 13.69% |
| 2022-23 | 48.71% -4.29% |
51.58% -0.43% |
47.06% -5.95% |
| 2023-24 | 49.85% 1.14% |
51.75% 0.17% |
48.76% 1.70% |
| 2024-25 | 62.86% 13.01% |
64.71% 12.97% |
61.82% 13.06% |
| Average | 43.85% | 47.74% | 41.69% |
Pepperdine has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 19.70% in 2015 to 11.64% in 2025, representing a 40.95% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 16.54%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Pepperdine from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 40.95% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 19.70% | 19.55% | 19.81% |
| 2016-17 | 18.14% -1.57% |
18.29% -1.26% |
18.04% -1.78% |
| 2017-18 | 18.48% 0.35% |
18.94% 0.65% |
18.20% 0.16% |
| 2018-19 | 20.00% 1.51% |
20.76% 1.82% |
19.44% 1.24% |
| 2019-20 | 17.93% -2.06% |
20.53% -0.23% |
16.18% -3.27% |
| 2020-21 | 14.88% -3.05% |
15.60% -4.92% |
14.40% -1.78% |
| 2021-22 | 16.00% 1.11% |
18.01% 2.40% |
15.00% 0.60% |
| 2022-23 | 16.87% 0.87% |
16.47% -1.53% |
17.11% 2.12% |
| 2023-24 | 11.79% -5.08% |
12.48% -4.00% |
11.36% -5.75% |
| 2024-25 | 11.64% -0.15% |
13.00% 0.52% |
10.82% -0.54% |
| Average | 16.54% | 17.36% | 16.04% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 11,584, the average number of admitted is 5,086, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 813.
The number of Pepperdine applicants decreased by 7.47% (931 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 16.15% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Pepperdine University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 9,923 | 3,781 | 745 |
| 2016-17 | 11,111 11.97% |
4,097 8.36% |
743 -0.27% |
| 2017-18 | 11,704 5.34% |
4,664 13.84% |
862 16.02% |
| 2018-19 | 11,265 -3.75% |
4,016 -13.89% |
803 -6.84% |
| 2019-20 | 12,764 13.31% |
4,049 0.82% |
726 -9.59% |
| 2020-21 | 11,768 -7.80% |
4,925 21.63% |
733 0.96% |
| 2021-22 | 11,855 0.74% |
6,283 27.57% |
1,005 37.11% |
| 2022-23 | 11,466 -3.28% |
5,585 -11.11% |
942 -6.27% |
| 2023-24 | 12,457 8.64% |
6,210 11.19% |
732 -22.29% |
| 2024-25 | 11,526 -7.47% |
7,245 16.67% |
843 15.16% |
| Average | 11,584 | 5,086 | 813 |
The following table compares Pepperdine University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | 49.85% | 62.86% | 26.10% |
| Loyola Marymount University | 45.08% | 40.29% | 11.89% |
| Gonzaga University | 81.69% | 75.96% | 7.54% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | 86.53% | 88.58% | -2.31% |
| University of the Pacific | 71.32% | 94.86% | -24.82% |
| University of San Diego | 52.38% | 46.75% | 12.04% |
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