First-Year Applicants

The Common Application is a multipart process that includes submission of the Common Application, the Pepperdine Questions, and Pepperdine Writing Supplement. All parts must be submitted through the Common Application website. Be sure to review your Common App dashboard to ensure that all parts have been submitted successfully.

Important: You will receive a final confirmation email from the Seaver College Office of Admission within 48 hours of our office receiving your Common Application submission. Please save and print this final confirmation. This final confirmation ensures successful completion of Step 1.

• Include your Common Application ID on all documents you submit. This will assist in the accurate and timely processing of your application file.
• All additional materials must be submitted or postmarked by the application deadline.
• We strongly recommend that you submit as many materials in electronic format as possible as this will expedite processing of your application file.

Monitor your application to-do lists via the Pepperdine Applicant Portal to verify that items have been received by the Admission Office. There will be a delay between submission of an item and reflection in your Applicant Portal to-do list. Do not send multiple copies of the same item. This will cause delay of processing your file. We recommend verifying on your Common Application account and with your school that all materials have been submitted in a timely manner. 

Please Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.

Please be aware that there are multiple steps to complete your Pepperdine application via the Common Application.

$70 Application Fee (Non-Refundable)

Common App Personal Essay

Pepperdine Essay Question

In addition to the Common App Personal Essay, applicants are required to submit a written response via the Common App to the following Pepperdine question:

Pepperdine is a Christian university where all are welcomed and encouraged to challenge each other in the pursuit of truth. Students, faculty, and staff members from all backgrounds participate in conversations of faith inside and outside of the classroom. Considering that Pepperdine is a Christian university, why are you interested in attending and how would you contribute to conversations of faith on campus? (300-500 words)

• Official high school transcripts are required of all prospective first-year students who have not yet graduated at the time of application. Please include your Common Application ID on all documents you submit. This will assist in the accurate and timely processing of your application file.
• If your school official has already submitted your transcript via the Common Application, please do not send additional hard copies as this will delay our ability to process your application file. Instead, please verify that these items were submitted on the School Forms tab in the Common Application system.
• If you have attended more than one high school, you must submit an official transcript from each school if the grades from the earlier school(s) do not appear on your last high school transcript.
• If you have attended high school(s) outside of the United States, you must submit official copies of each international transcript and any certified external exam results, regardless of whether the grades appear on your current school's transcript. Visit the international admission website for instructions. 
• A cumulative sixth-semester transcript (through grade 11) must be submitted at the time of application.
• If accepted, the final transcript with graduation date listed must be submitted prior to enrollment.

Submit Electronically

Transcripts can either be submitted from the school through the Common Application Naviance system, Parchment,  National Student Clearinghouse, or SCOIR.

Submit by Mail

If the transcripts are mailed, they must be official with an original signature of the school official(s) or the school seal on the transcript and sent directly from the school or submitted in an envelope sealed by the school. Transcripts should be mailed to the following address:

Seaver College Office of Admission
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-4392

Please note: Faxed or emailed copies of transcripts are NOT accepted.

The Academic Letter of Recommendation must be from a core subject (math, science, English, history, foreign language, religion) teacher or counselor who is familiar with the applicant's academic standing.

Include your Common Application ID on all documents you submit. This will assist in the accurate and timely processing of your application file.

Ways to Submit Academic Letter of Recommendation

Option A: Pepperdine Recommendation Form
You can use this form to submit a request for your recommender to complete your recommendation.

Option B: Common Application Recommendation Form
Once in the Common Application, select "My Colleges" in the left-hand menu, and then "Assign Recommenders." Enter the required information for the form. Please note: you will need your recommender's name, position title, email address, and work phone number to complete the form. Your recommender will then be contacted and invited to submit your recommendation through the Common Application system. If your school official has already submitted your recommendation via the Common Application, please do not send additional hard copies as this will delay our ability to process your application file. Instead, please verify that these items were submitted on the School Forms tab in the Common Application system. Please see the video walkthrough for more information.

Option C: Scoir
You can submit a request for your recommender to complete your recommendation through Scoir.

Please note: In order for Pepperdine to receive your recommendation, you must correctly assign your school official(s) to your Pepperdine application. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.

Pepperdine is test optional, and students will receive the same consideration for admission regardless of whether they submit test scores. However, please note that SAT/ACT scores are required in order to be considered for the Regents Scholars Program scholarships. Please visit the FAQs page for more information.

If you choose to submit test scores,  you have the option to submit scores through your Common Application, an official score report from the testing agency, or the form in your Pepperdine Application Portal. If test scores are self-reported at the time of application, official test scores will be required upon enrollment at Pepperdine. Please note that we do not accept test scores sent by email or through your school.

Fall applicants must take the SAT I or ACT by October in order to meet the November 1 early action deadline or by December in order to meet the January 15 application deadline. The optional ACT writing test and SAT writing/essay section are neither required nor recommended. The SAT II Subject Tests are also not required.

First-year students applying for fall have the option to sign up for an admission interview as part of the application evaluation process. Visit the Admission Interviews webpage for additional interview information and FAQs.