Pepperdine University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Pepperdine's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Pepperdine acceptance rate by year
9,331 of 13,445 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 62.9% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 13,445 | 9,331 | 69.4% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 11,526 | 7,245 | 62.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 12,457 | 6,210 | 49.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 11,466 | 5,585 | 48.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 11,855 | 6,249 | 52.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 11,634 | 4,925 | 42.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 12,764 | 4,049 | 31.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 11,265 | 4,016 | 35.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 11,704 | 4,664 | 39.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 11,111 | 4,097 | 36.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 9,923 | 3,781 | 38.1% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Pepperdine deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App. Checked October 24, 2026 on Pepperdine's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions December 21
- Early action Apply by Decisions December 21
- Early decision II Apply by Decisions February 1
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions March 19
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Pepperdine
Pepperdine offers early decision and early action and early decision ii for 2026–27. It does not publish separate early admit rates in its Common Data Set.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Pepperdine
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
- 4.08.0%
- 3.75–3.9926.0%
- 3.50–3.7428.0%
- 3.25–3.4922.0%
- 3.00–3.2413.0%
- 2.50–2.992.0%
- Below 2.501.0%
What counts
What Pepperdine weighs
From section C7 of Pepperdine's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Essays
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
- Religious affiliation
Important
- Recommendations
- Volunteer work
Considered
- Test scores
- Interview
- First-generation status
- Work experience
Not considered
- Class rank
- Alumni relation
- Where you live
- State residency
- Demonstrated interest
Waitlist
Pepperdine waitlist
1,303 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 812 accepted it, and 670 were admitted from it (82.5% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What Pepperdine costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Pepperdine's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Pepperdine's 69.4%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Pepperdine admissions
What is Pepperdine's acceptance rate?
Pepperdine admitted 9,331 of 13,445 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 69.4%. That is up from 62.9% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Pepperdine test-optional for 2026–27?
Yes. Pepperdine is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.
When are Pepperdine's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Early action: November 1, 2026; Early decision II: January 15, 2027; Regular decision: January 15, 2027. Check Pepperdine's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Pepperdine?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1240–1410 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 17% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1410 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Pepperdine University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Pepperdine first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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