Undergraduate Admission FAQ

This past application season (Fall 2024) we received 12,719 applications and admitted 7,515 students.

The admission committee looks closely at an applicant's academic record, GPA, standardized test scores (if submitted), background of service and leadership, and character as exhibited in references and short answer/personal statements.

Admitted Student Averages (Mid-50%):

High School GPA: 3.67-3.89 (unweighted and only including academic classes)
Transfer GPA: 3.55-3.83 (unweighted)
SAT Total: 1350-1450 (superscored)
ACT Composite: 31-33 (superscored)
TOEFL IBT: 102-107

First-year and nursing applicants apply through the Common Application, while transfer applicants apply directly through the Pepperdine Transfer Application. 

For more information about student types and deadlines, please visit our Apply Now page. 

For first-year students, the fall application deadlines are November 1 for Early Action and January 15 for Regular Decision.  The nursing application deadline is January 15. The fall transfer application deadline is January 15. The spring application deadline is October 1. For a complete application timeline, check out the Apply Now page.

Yes, Pepperdine offers evaluative interviews for first-year students applying for fall. Visit the Admission Interviews webpage for additional interview information and to register.

There are no minimum courses you have to complete.

Transfer applicants are high school graduates who have taken any college units before or after graduating high school. Students who have not graduated from high school or who have graduated from high school without completing any college coursework should apply as a first-year student.

If any portion of the high school course work was completed at a traditional high school, an official transcript of that work must be submitted.

If a transcript for work completed as a home-schooled applicant is not available, official GED or CHSPE documentation indicating a passing score must be submitted. Additionally, official documentation should be submitted indicating the curriculum followed and grades obtained.

Please note: Due to the non-traditional nature of this type of schooling, applicants are expected to demonstrate academic proficiency through strong SAT I or ACT scores.

Pepperdine will accept for admissions purposes transcripts from California students who elect or authorize changes to their transcripts as allowed by California Assembly Bill 104, namely changing letter grade(s) to Pass or No Pass grade(s).

A primary aim of our holistic admission review process is to look for evidence of applicants' academic aptitude and readiness for Pepperdine through an assessment of recommendations, rigor of the curriculum, course choices, and grades. We will assess what is provided on all applicants' transcripts using the same review process and standards.

Pepperdine offers Early Action admission consideration for first-year students for the fall term (excluding nursing program applicants). Early Action is nonbinding, meaning applicants are not required to enroll at Pepperdine if admitted. Pepperdine does not offer Early Decision at this time.

The Early Action application deadline is November 1, and applicants will receive an admission decision by January 10. The enrollment deadline is May 1.

The Regular Decision/ Transfer application deadline for fall is January 15, and applicants will receive an admission decision by April 1. The enrollment deadline is May 1.

The Nursing application deadline for fall is January 15, and applicants will receive an admission decision by April 1. The enrollment deadline is May 1.

Applicants will receive the same consideration for admission and financial assistance regardless of whether they apply for Early Action or Regular Decision. For a complete application timeline, check out the Apply Now page.

Admitted Early Action applicants that have completed their financial aid application by the November 1 priority deadline will receive an estimated financial aid award offer on or before February 1. Students will be notified by email once their financial aid award offer is available.

No. Instead, you can reapply for the two subsequent academic terms.

Applicants that were postponed to Regular Decision can provide updates on their recent academic and extracurricular achievements through the postpone form in their Application Portal. They can also contact their Admission Counselor to demonstrate continued interest in Pepperdine. We do not recommend submitting any additional materials to the Office of Admission, as it will not have an impact on the admission decision.

The SAT/ACT are optional for all applicants during the admission process. However, international students may need to submit test scores or certain grades to demonstrate proof of English proficiency.

Please note that SAT/ACT scores are required in order to be considered for the Regents Scholars Program scholarships. Please refer to the merit aid question below for more information. 

If submitted, test scores will be one of several factors the admission committee considers when reviewing a student's application. In our holistic review, the majority of a student's admission decision is based on academic achievement as demonstrated through the unweighted and recalculated GPA, the transcript which shows course rigor and trends, the school report which shows the academic context, and test scores if submitted for review. Our holistic review also dedicates significant consideration to non-academic achievements. These achievements are assessed via the application's Activities section, essays, and letter of recommendation.

Students who choose to apply without submitting test scores will not be penalized. Pepperdine's application review has always been holistic and we will continue to consider all parts of an applicant's application when determining the best fit students for Pepperdine. You may find it helpful to visit our Admission Fast Facts webpage, where you will find our admitted student averages for both GPA and test scores.

Students who choose to apply without submitting test scores do not need to submit additional application materials. The admission committee will continue to thoroughly review and consider each component of a student's application, including all information on the application, official transcripts, and letter of recommendation.

All students have the option of applying with or without test scores. For more information about submitting test scores and the application process, please visit our First-Year Applicant and Transfer Applicant pages.

Due to the variance of home-school curriculum across the nation, although it is not required, we highly recommend that home-schooled students submit an SAT I or ACT score.

Deciding whether or not to submit test scores is entirely up to the student. You may find it helpful in guiding your decision to visit our Admission Fast Facts page, where you will find our admitted student averages for both GPA and test scores. You should also keep in mind whether you are interested in being considered for the Regents Scholars Program scholarships since that program requires students to submit SAT/ACT scores. You can find more information about scholarships here. 

First-year applicants are required to submit SAT/ACT scores in order to be considered for the Regents Scholars Program scholarships. However, test scores are not required for all other forms of merit aid, including the George Pepperdine Achievement Award, Blanche E. Seaver International Scholarship, and more.  The following components will be factored into consideration for merit aid: a student's unweighted and recalculated GPA, demonstrated course rigor, overall strength as an applicant as determined by the admission committee, and test scores (if submitted). For more information regarding scholarships, please visit the University/Private Financial Assistance page.

When students apply, they will be asked if they plan to submit test scores on the application. If they do plan to submit test scores, we will wait to receive them before reviewing their application. If you change your mind about submitting test scores after applying, you can email admission-seaver@pepperdine.edu to waive the test score requirement.

Fall applicants: Applicants should take the SAT I or ACT by October in order to meet the November 1 Early Action deadline or by December to meet the January 15 Regular Decision deadline. If you take additional tests after the application deadline, then you should submit the test scores through your Pepperdine Application Portal as soon as possible for the best chance of them being considered. 

Spring applicants: Students applying for the spring term need to have all application materials submitted by October 1.

Students can submit either official test scores through the testing agency, enter them on their application, or submit them through the form in their Pepperdine Application Portal. 

SAT/ACT scores are optional for applicants.

No, Pepperdine only considers the SAT I and/or ACT exams.

The optional ACT writing test and SAT essay are not required, and scores from these optional components are not considered.

We recommend taking the test early, so you have time to retake or reschedule the test if needed. 

Fall applicants: Applicants should take the SAT I or ACT by October in order to meet the November 1 Early Action deadline or by December to meet the January 15 Regular Decision deadline. If you take additional tests after the application deadline, then you should submit the test scores through your Pepperdine Application Portal as soon as possible for the best chance of them being considered. 

Spring applicants: Students applying for the spring term need to have all application materials submitted by October 1.

Applicants can submit test scores in three ways:

1. Send an official score report from the testing agency.

2. Enter test scores on their application.

3. Self-report scores through the test score form in the Pepperdine Application Portal. Applicants will receive access to the portal once their application has been processed. 

Pepperdine superscores both the SAT and ACT, meaning we combine the highest section scores from each test date to create the highest possible total. It is therefore to your advantage to send our office the results from each time you took the test.

International applicants do not necessarily need to take the TOEFL or IELTS. International applicants must submit proof of English proficiency, which may be demonstrated by one of the following:

• SAT I Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 600 and above
• ACT Reading score of 24 and above
• TOEFL iBT (or TOEFL iBT Home Edition) score of 85 and above - *Please note that Pepperdine does not accept TOEFL "MyBest Scores"
• C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency) of 186 and above
• Duolingo English Test score of 110 and above
• IELTS (or IELTS Indicator) overall score of 6.5 and above
• A "C" or better in a transferable English Composition course (not ESL) at an accredited US college or university
• A "C" or better on the UK system AS or A-Level English Exams (not ESL), or Hong Kong system HKALE English Exam
• The ELS Language Centers' Master level 112 class with a grade of B or higher
• IB 1 English grade result of 5 or better (not ESL)
• 4 years of study at a high school in which English is the medium of instruction - subject to verification by an admission counselor

NOTE: All test scores must be taken within 2 years of time of application.

Seaver College has approximately 3,400 undergraduates with 59% female and 41% male. We have students from all 50 states and over 70 nations. Currently about 56% of our students are from California, 9% are international, and the rest come from all 50 states. Our top 5 states of origin are California, Texas, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona. Our top 15 countries of origin are China, South Korea, Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Peru, Japan, Philippines, Mexico, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Kuwait.

For domestic students, Seaver College has an ethnic profile of 49.3% Caucasian, 19.8% Hispanic, 16.5% Asian, 3.6% African American, <1% Pacific Islander, and <1% Native American. Students also come from a variety of religious backgrounds, including 59% Christian, 14% Catholic, 6% Agnostic, 5% Church of Christ,  3% Latter-Day Saints, 1% Jewish, 1% Buddhist, 1% Hindu, 1% Sikh, and more. 

Pepperdine's location is ideal for a variety of activities ranging from hiking, camping, swimming, and surfing. The university is located approximately 30 minutes from Los Angeles, where students frequently attend professional athletic events, go to comedy and music venues, go shopping, eat at different cultural restaurants, and explore the art exhibits at the Getty, LACMA, MOCA, and Annenberg Space for Photography.

On campus, Pepperdine hosts student-led coffeehouses with live music and poetry, improv comedy, world-class NCAA athletics, cookouts, and much more. Seaver College has over 110 clubs and organizations that range from the major-specific (Pre-Health, Pre-Law) to the truly quirky (Swashbuckler Pirate society). One great thing about having high student participation is that if a certain club isn't already available, it is easy for any student to start one. Our students also show off their school spirit by supporting our athletic teams! We have 17 men's and women's NCAA Division I athletic teams, 9 club teams, and 6 intramural sports.

Yes. Students entering as a first-year are required to live on campus and have a meal plan their freshman and sophomore years. Transfer students are required to live on campus for one academic year. On-campus housing is not guaranteed for junior and senior years, and spaces are available by a lottery process to upperclassmen.

Seaver College has 25 residence halls that provide suite-style living with a common room and restroom surrounded by 4 fully furnished double bedrooms. Over 60% of our undergraduates live on campus. For videos of the residence halls and further information about housing, please visit the Housing and Residence Life website.

Yes. All students can have a car on campus for all 4 years. There is no parking fee, but students must register their car with the Department of Public Safety upon arriving on campus.

Pepperdine has taken many measures to provide a safe campus, such as entrance security booths, a late night security escort program, 24-hour campus security personnel, locked residence halls and suite areas, a blue-light system, and well-lit parking lots.

The estimated cost of attendance for the 2024-25 academic year is $95,234. That includes tuition, food, housing, and indirect costs, such as books, transportation, and personal expenses. Approximately 92% of students at Pepperdine receive some form of financial assistance. For more information about financial assistance, please visit the Financial Assistance website.

Pepperdine is a liberal arts university with excellent programs across all the academic offerings. The largest academic divisions at Seaver College are the Business Division, Communication Division, Social Science Division, and the Natural Science Division. We currently offer 45 majors and 50 minors across 8 academic divisions.

The top 5 majors by number of students are:

• Business Administration
• Psychology
• Biology
• Integrated Marketing Communication
• Sports Medicine

The average class size is 18 students, and the student to professor ratio is 13:1.

No. All classes are taught by a professor. 89% of full-time faculty have earned a doctoral or terminal degree.

You can only indicate one major on your application, but you will have the opportunity to add an additional major or minor during your time at Pepperdine. Academic Advising is available to help students plan out their curriculum once enrolled.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has ranked Pepperdine's international programs consistently in the top for the number of students we send to study abroad and for the popularity of our study abroad programs. Approximately 80% of undergraduate students study abroad in one of 6 academic year programs that focus on the liberal arts/general education curriculum. The academic year programs include Buenos Aires, Argentina; Florence, Italy; Heidelberg, Germany; London, England; Hauteville, Switzerland, and Washington, D.C. Altogether there are 23 different opportunities to study abroad, including over a dozen summer programs. For further information, check out our International Programs website.

Typically, students receiving a "3" or higher on AP tests (a "4" or higher is required for the English exam) will receive credit for AP courses. In regard to IB credit, students receiving a "5" or higher on IB tests (a "6" or higher is required for the English exam) will typically receive credit. For a complete list of approved AP or IB course transfers, please visit the Academic Advising website.

Pepperdine typically grants unit credit for courses completed at regionally accredited institutions with a grade of "C" or higher, with the exception of remedial-level and/or non-academic courses (as determined by Academic Advising at Pepperdine). These courses must be completed within seven years of the term of matriculation to Pepperdine. Incoming students can receive a maximum of 64 semester units. Academic Advising will issue degree audit reports to accepted transfer students before the enrollment deadline.

Courses completed through a dual enrollment program will be considered for transfer credit using the same criteria as regular college classes. First-year applicants are not required to submit college transcripts, but official college transcripts are necessary in order to receive a degree audit report from Academic Advising before the enrollment deadline.

Pepperdine's four-year graduation rate is 76%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 49%.

6 months after graduation, 91% of 2023 graduates were employed, accepted to graduate school, volunteering full time, or in the military. For a complete breakdown of graduate outcomes, check out the Success After Seaver page.

Recent Pepperdine grads have gone on to work for companies including: Amgen, AT&T, the Academy of Country Music, Boeing, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Creative Artists Agency, Capital One, Deloitte, Disney, DreamWorks Animation, Ernst & Young, ESPN,  Fidelity Investments, Four Seasons, Fox, the Gary Sinise Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Google, Hughes Research Lab, International Justice Mission, Kaiser Permanente, Live Nation, Mattel, Meta, Morgan Stanley, National Institute of Health, NBC Universal, Nordstrom, Oracle, Oprah Winfrey Network, Peace Corps, Sony, Target, Teach for America, Wells Fargo, Zappos, and many more.

76% of Pepperdine students that applied in 2022 were admitted to graduate school. There was an 89% medical school acceptance rate and a close to 100% acceptance rate into dental, physical therapy, physician assistant, and veterinary school.

94% of students participate in internships, student teaching, on- or off-campus employment, or undergraduate research during their time at Pepperdine. Students are supported by the Career Center, which offers advising, resume writing help, mock interviews, career fairs, a Pepperdine exclusive job search site, and more. With small class sizes, students have increased opportunities for faculty mentorship and research as an undergraduate. Pepperdine students are also supported by the Pepperdine Alumni Network, which is comprised of 136,000+ alumni around the world. 

Campus visits are typically offered Monday through Friday at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 2 PM. Visits include a 60-minute student-led campus tour and 30-minute application workshop with a Pepperdine Admission Counselor. The application workshop reviews the timeline for applying, the application evaluation process, and financial assistance. Campus tours without a workshop are also available on select Saturdays. You can sign up online or by calling the Office of Admission at 310-506-4392.

Prospective students are welcome to sit in on a class or meet with a representative from their intended Academic Division, depending on availability. You will need to fill out the Division Contact and Visit Request Form at least one week prior to your visit.

Yes, Pepperdine offers regional admission interviews and participates in college fairs across the country.  International students can contact the Office of International Student Services (OISS) at admission-oiss@pepperdine.edu to check whether Pepperdine will be visiting their country.

For hotel recommendations and other information about visiting Malibu, check out the Parents Program website.