About Pepperdine University

Why Consider Pepperdine University?

Pepperdine University is a global, Christian University dedicated to integrating faith with learning. It encourages students and graduates to lead purposeful lives and to live as servant-minded leaders throughout the world. It is within this these goals that Pepperdine University designs and delivers its many programs.  

Besides the school’s dedication to a quality education and spiritual life, here are some great reasons to consider Pepperdine University:

Pepperdine University Ranking

U.S. News ranks Pepperdine University #46 (tie) in National Universities, #18 in Best Colleges for Veterans, and #35 (tie) in Best Value Schools.i At the graduate school level, Pepperdine University ranked #1 in Dispute Resolution (ranked under Best Law Schools), #51 in Part-time MBA, #64 in Public Affairs, and #72 in Best Business Schools. Its Clinical Psychology graduate program ranked #143 in the category of that name.ii

Pepperdine University’s Spiritual Life

Pepperdine University integrates worship, service, and social responsibility with rigorous academic study to create a community that nurtures students’ hearts, souls, strengths, and minds. Within this context, the school strives to align higher learning with a higher purpose. Ethics-based graduate programs and on-campus Spiritual Life Advisors help students embark on their spiritual and educational journey with inspired character. While Pepperdine was founded in the Churches of Christ tradition, it welcomes people of all faiths.

Opportunities to Serve

Pepperdine University has a Volunteer Center that helps students find and secure opportunities to serve on local, national, and global levels. This could enable students to increase their knowledge and experience in their major or in areas beyond their studies, all while making a difference in their communities and the world.

Pepperdine University Faculty

Pepperdine University’s distinguished faculty members are experts and renowned leaders in their fields. They contribute to academic discourse through published works, national and international conferences, memberships in professional organizations and societies, and cutting-edge and innovative research. In fall 2016, Pepperdine University employed 377 full-time faculty members and utilized 58 research and instructional assistants.iii

Pepperdine University’s Locations and Options

In addition to the main Pepperdine University campus in Malibu, California, there are five Pepperdine graduate school campuses located in California: one in Westlake Village, Silicon Valley, Irvine, Encino, and West Los Angeles.

Pepperdine also offers programs in different parts of the world. In 2018m, it offered programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Florence, Italy; Heidelberg, Germany; Lausanne, Switzerland; London, United Kingdom; and Shanghai, China. It also offered a program in Washington, D.C.

For students who don’t want to attend classes on a Pepperdine campus, the school offers online graduate programs in numerous disciplines. These programs offer students options to earn their degrees through a hybrid format or entirely online.

Pepperdine Athletics

Pepperdine University has 17 NCAA Division 1 teams (eight men’s and nine women’s), 13 national championships, and 12 individual championships. As of 2018, 48 graduates of Pepperdine University were Olympians, and seven were Olympic gold medalists.