University of San Diego vs Pepperdine

Nestled in the vibrant cities of San Diego and Malibu, University of San Diego (USD) and Pepperdine University stand as two prominent institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they differ in several key aspects. USD boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. Pepperdine, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong focus on student retention and completion. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, student body demographics, and additional factors that may influence your decision. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Pepperdine University logo

Pepperdine University

University of San Diego logo

University of San Diego

Overview

Location Malibu, California San Diego, 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 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 93.0% 92.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Churches of Christ Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 52.7% 52.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $45
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 14,326
Total number of admissions given out 6,249 7,550
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,024 1,166
Yield rate 16.4% 15.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $80,152 $75,982
Average net price $40,945 $34,155
Tuition $59,450 $52,120
Room & board $16,700 $16,246
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $36,967
82.0%
Average amount $34,413
Students receiving federal student loan 38.0%
Average amount $5,171
33.0%
Average amount $5,216
Students taking out private loans 9.0%
Average amount $12,899
5.0%
Average amount $12,155

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,708
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
5,702
Men 43.9% Women 56.1%
Graduate students 6,738
Men 30.2% Women 69.8%
3,339
Men 42.4% Women 57.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 46.9% 45.5%
International students 8.3% 6.2%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,579 2,484
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Washington Colorado Arizona California Washington Colorado Arizona Nevada

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Legal Profession
  • Education
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 83.0% 80.0%
Dropout rate 16.6% 19.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,699
  • Year 2: $92,733
  • Year 3: $106,087
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,518
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $93,293
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,829
  • Year 2: $96,691
  • Year 3: $91,701
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,898
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $90,146
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,350
  • Year 2: $62,508
  • Year 3: $75,589
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,825
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $71,546
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,559
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $70,082
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,228
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,821
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,799
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $58,854
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,780
  • Year 2: $46,156
  • Year 3: $56,663
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,672
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $115,744
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,123
  • Year 2: $89,672
  • Year 3: $102,690
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,786
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $98,598
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,329
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $93,985
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,367
  • Year 2: $73,391
  • Year 3: $92,346
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,417
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $84,924
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,970
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $84,277
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,809
  • Year 2: $61,962
  • Year 3: $75,083
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,424
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $72,729
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,434
  • Year 2: $61,069
  • Year 3: $72,310

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