Samuel Merritt University vs Pepperdine
Samuel Merritt University and Pepperdine University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Samuel Merritt, a private university in Oakland, California, boasts a 100% acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. Pepperdine, a private Christian university in Malibu, California, has a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 34%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including nursing, business, and psychology at Samuel Merritt, and business, communication, and psychology at Pepperdine. While Samuel Merritt's student body is predominantly female (73%), Pepperdine's student body is more evenly distributed, with 49% female and 51% male students. Samuel Merritt's graduation rate stands at 75%, while Pepperdine's is slightly higher at 83%. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that
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![]() Pepperdine University |
![]() Samuel Merritt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Malibu, California | Oakland, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Trimester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 52.7% | N/A |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$90
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SAT range | 1260 - 1440 | N/A |
ACT range | 25 - 30 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 19.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 3.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 11,855 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,249 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,024 | |
Yield rate | 16.4% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,152 | |
Average net price | $40,945 | |
Tuition | $59,450 | |
Room & board | $16,700 | |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
96.0%
Average amount $36,967 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $5,171 |
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Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $12,899 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,708
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
728
Men 20.6% Women 79.4% |
Graduate students |
6,738
Men 30.2% Women 69.8% |
1,320
Men 26.1% Women 73.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 46.9% | N/A |
International students | 8.3% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,579 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington Colorado Arizona | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 83.0% | N/A |
Dropout rate | 16.6% | N/A |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry (Doctoral Degrees)
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
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