Core Takeaway: Pepperdine University is a private Christian institution in Malibu, use this link California, ranked #84 among National Universities in the 2026 U.S. News rankings and #39 for undergraduate teaching . With a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, campuses on four continents, and a mission that integrates faith with rigorous scholarship, Pepperdine offers a distinctive educational experience for students seeking academic excellence within a Christian context.

Founding and Mission

Pepperdine University was founded in 1937 by George Pepperdine, a Christian businessman who established the Western Auto Supply Company . His original statement of purpose remains the university’s guiding principle: to help young people “prepare themselves for a life of usefulness in this competitive world and to help them build a foundation of Christian character and faith which will survive the storms of life” .

The institution began as a small Christian liberal arts college in central Los Angeles. In 1970, as it added graduate and professional schools, it became Pepperdine University. In 1972, the university opened its current campus in Malibu, an 830-acre property overlooking the Pacific Ocean .

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ, though it does not profess to be a church or religious body. The university’s governing board requires a majority of its members to be members of the Churches of Christ, preserving its distinctive heritage while remaining free of direct ecclesiastical control .

Academic Structure

Pepperdine comprises six schools offering programs from bachelor’s through doctoral levels :

• Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences: The undergraduate college, offering over 43 fields of study
• Graziadio Business School: Bachelor’s, MBA, executive, and joint degree programs
• Graduate School of Education and Psychology: Doctoral and master’s programs
• School of Public Policy: Master of Public Policy and joint degrees
• Caruso School of Law: JD, LLM, and joint degree programs
• College of Health Science: Bachelor’s, master’s, and post-baccalaureate programs

The most popular undergraduate major is Business Administration, which awarded 188 degrees in 2024 . At the graduate level, Clinical Psychology (762 degrees) and Business Administration (437 degrees) are the largest programs .

Rankings and Academic Reputation

In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Pepperdine placed #84 among National Universities and #39 in Best Undergraduate Teaching . The university’s student-faculty ratio is 12:1, and it maintains a test-optional admissions policy .

The Caruso School of Law achieved its highest-ever ranking in 2026 at #46 among law schools, with four programs ranked in the top 50: Dispute Resolution (#3), Tax Law (#31), Clinical Training (#43), their website and Constitutional Law (#47) .

The Graziadio Business School ranks #110 in Best Business Schools and #49 in Part-time MBA programs .

International Programs

One of Pepperdine’s most distinctive features is its international campus network. The university operates permanent campuses in Buenos Aires, Florence, Heidelberg, London, Switzerland, Washington D.C., and Kyoto . These programs allow students to study abroad while remaining enrolled at Pepperdine, taking courses taught by Pepperdine faculty.

The international programs include educational field trips each semester. For example, students in the Florence program travel to Sicily, while those in Heidelberg visit Malta, and London students explore Greece . A new campus in Kyoto, Japan, launched in Fall 2026, expanding the university’s presence in Asia .

Athletics

Pepperdine competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the West Coast Conference. The Waves have won 10 NCAA team championships across five men’s sports—one of only 22 schools to accomplish this feat .

Championships include men’s volleyball (1978, 1985, 1986, 1992, 2005), men’s golf (1997, 2021), baseball (1992), men’s water polo (1997), and men’s tennis (2006) . The university has also produced 12 individual national champions, most recently in beach volleyball in 2012 .

Campus Life and Student Body

Pepperdine enrolls approximately 3,553 undergraduate students (Fall 2024), with a total enrollment of about 6,500 across all schools . The student body is diverse: 41.9% White, 22.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, and 8.07% Black or African American . The retention rate for full-time undergraduates is 88%, higher than the peer average for doctoral universities .

The Malibu campus is known for its dramatic location in the Santa Monica Mountains, with many buildings offering ocean views. The university’s mission emphasizes that “the student, as a person of infinite dignity, is the heart of the educational enterprise” .

Cost and Financial Aid

For the 2025-26 academic year, Pepperdine’s estimated full price is $96,950, with tuition and fees of $72,672 . However, 92% of undergraduates receive some form of grant aid, and the average price after financial aid is approximately $55,400 . For low-income students, the average price drops to $36,460 . The university meets 76% of demonstrated financial need .

Conclusion

Pepperdine University occupies a unique position in American higher education: a Christian institution that maintains rigorous academic standards without sacrificing its spiritual identity. Its location on the Malibu coast, its network of international campuses, and its commitment to small classes and close faculty-student relationships create a distinctive educational environment. For students seeking an education that explicitly integrates faith and learning, see this site Pepperdine offers a compelling option—one that U.S. News recognizes among the nation’s top 100 universities and top 40 for undergraduate teaching .