[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is Pepperdine to get into?
This page provides the latest information on Pepperdine University (Pepperdine)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. Pepperdine's acceptance rate is 62.86% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 11,526 students applied and 7,245 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is relatively high, making it somewhat easy to get into Pepperdine.
To apply to Pepperdine, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, Pepperdine's acceptance rate is 62.86% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 11.64%. 4,197 men and 7,325 women applied to Pepperdine and 2,716 men and 4,528 women students were accepted.
Among them, 353 men and 490 women were enrolled in Pepperdine. You can explore the Pepperdine's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 149 students (18% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 84 students (10% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at Pepperdine.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,370, including 680 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 690 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 710 and the 25th percentile is 650. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 740 and the 25th percentile is 640.
The median ACT composite score is 31, with a 75th percentile score of 32 and a 25th percentile score of 29 at Pepperdine. The median ACT Math score is 28 and the median ACT English score is 33.
How competitive is Pepperdine's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Pepperdine University are competitive and high compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,177, ACT: 25 - private (not-for-profit) doctoral / research university).
First-year Enrollment by Gender and Enrolled Type
For the academic year 2024-25, total 843 first-year students enrolled in Pepperdine. The proportion of full-time students is 99.64% and part-time students is 0.36%.
By gender, the proportion of men students is 41.87% and women students is 58.13%.
The following table shows the first-year students by gender and enrolled type at Pepperdine.
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Recommendations, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at Pepperdine. The english proficiency test is required .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Pepperdine University.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to Pepperdine:
- Open Admission Policy: No
- Undergraduate Application Fees: -
- Graduate Application Fees: -
- Admission Information: www.pepperdine.edu/admission
- Online Application: https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/admission/application/undergraduate
- Calendar System: Semester
- Course for High School Students: Not Offered
- Credits Accepted: Advanced placement (AP) Credits
- Degree Offered: 1-Year Certificate, Bachelor, Post-Bachelor Certificate, Master, Doctoral (Research), Doctoral (Professional Practice)
Pepperdine Admission Frequently Asked Questions
Pepperdine is relatively easy to get into, with an acceptance rate of 62.86%.
Pepperdine recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to Pepperdine is 1,370, and the average ACT score is 31. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, Pepperdine requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, Pepperdine requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
Pepperdine does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, Pepperdine requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, Pepperdine requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.
The institutional SAT code for Pepperdine is 4630 and 4-digit ACT code is 0373.