If you’re searching for a Christian-based university outside of Los Angeles, California then Pepperdine might be just the place for you. Situated in sunny Malibu, this faith-based university is ranked as the 10th most entrepreneurial school in the country. So what do you need to get accepted and what is the Pepperdine acceptance rate? Keep reading to learn more about this and what you can to improve your chances of being accepted.‍

What is the Pepperdine Acceptance Rate?

‍The Pepperdine acceptance rate is 38%, making it a competitive school to set your eyes on. Let’s take a look at some numbers from the accepted student population at Pepperdine so we have a better idea of just how competitive this acceptance rate actually is. For the most recently admitted class, the average had:

•    GPA is 3.59
•    SAT score is 1320 on the redesigned test
•    ACT composite score is 28

While these aren’t insanely competitive statistics, they do still require some careful planning to achieve. With that in mind, let’s talk about what steps you can take to improve your chances of being accepted into Pepperdine.

Improve Your Chances of Being Accepted to Pepperdine

Using the information above, we can start developing a plan to make your application more appealing and increase your chances of becoming part of the Pepperdine acceptance rate. I’m going to break it down into two sections for you based on the averages I provided above.

Let’s Talk Grades

Are you tired of talking about your GPA yet? I know most students who meet with me are so I’ll try to make this section as painless as possible. If you’re seriously considering submitting an application to Pepperdine, use that 3.59 average GPA as the minimum for yourself. The higher the GPA, the more impressive you’ll look to the Pepperdine admissions committee.

If you need to raise your GPA, here are a few strategies you can try:

‍Take Advanced Classes: Check your school’s grading policy when it comes to AP and IB classes. If they give a boost to your GPA then I definitely recommend signing up for a few that really interest you. This is also a great way to show Pepperdine that you’re seriously preparing for college.

‍Hire a Tutor: I don’t know what it is about tutoring that makes so many students cringe! It’s a personalized and easy way for you to work with someone to improve your grades. There are multiple benefits to being tutored and my passion for tutoring has led me to recruit and train tutors of my own. I find a lot of students just like you need tutors for math and tutors for English, but they’re also trained in science, history, and Spanish.

The ACT or SAT

There are three different SAT scores for us to look over: the average, the 25th percentile, and the 75th percentile. The percentiles give you a solid range where you want your scores to be when you're preparing for the SAT. For the students that are part of the Pepperdine acceptance rate, the 25th percentile is 1220 and the 75th percentile is 1410. The higher your score, the better your chances are of being accepted.

To be extra competitive come application time, I recommend you aim for a score between the average and the 75th percentile.

Because the only information we have on the ACT scores for Pepperdine is the average composite score of 28, I recommend that be the minimum score you aim for.

And for you to achieve scores like that, you’ll need to practice and study regularly. Cramming for a standardized test score is not going to help you get the scores you need for Pepperdine. Because Pepperdine shows no bias, you can choose to take whichever test you perform better on. I also recommend you invest in a top-scoring tutor for the ACT or the SAT.

Other Schools to Consider

If you’re curious about other schools in the same academic caliber as Pepperdine or are struggling with where else you can consider applying, I have some recommendations below for you. Make sure to research these schools carefully, because they will have different admissions requirements and standards than the Pepperdine acceptance rate.

‍School NameLocationACT AverageSAT AverageAmerican UniversityWashington, DC281340Auburn UniversityAuburn University, AL271240Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY291350Boston UniversityBoston, MA291370Chapman UniversityOrange, CA271300Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA261270Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY251220Penn State University ParkUniversity Park, PA271260Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY281280Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY281300Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY261240Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA241210United States Military AcademyWest Point, NY291340University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL261200University of California, DavisDavis, CA271290University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA281360University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH251210University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT271310University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MA271270University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX281320Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA301370

With its faith-based approach and Malibu, California location, that 38% Pepperdine acceptance rate looks more and more appealing. I know I’ve given you a lot to think about and deciding where to apply to college is a huge decision. So if you need any help, feel free to reach out to my team of College Consultants. They will take a complete and cohesive look at the information you’ll be submitting on your application, recommend ways to improve, and suggest schools that are good fit for you.

Any other questions about Pepperdine and the college admissions process? Leave them in the comments section below!