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College · Catholic life on campus

Pepperdine University

  • LocationMalibu, CA
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 9,545 students

Affiliation: Churches of Christ

Official website

Pepperdine University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Pepperdine University is a Christian university in Malibu, California. Its Hub for Spiritual Life lists a Catholic Student Association (CSA) among its student-led ministries. No Catholic campus ministry center, assigned priest, or Mass, confession, or adoration schedule was found on the university's public pages.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Pepperdine University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miOur Lady of Malibu Catholic Church: 0.4 mi1Serra Retreat Chapel: 1.5 mi2Pepperdine University (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church — 0.4 mi · 3625 Winter Canyon Road, Malibu
  2. Serra Retreat Chapel — 1.5 mi · 3401 Serra Road, Malibu

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (The university's Hub for Spiritual Life lists the Catholic Student Association among its student-led ministries.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student-Led Ministries | Pepperdine Universitypepperdine.edu/spiritual-life/hub/student-led-ministries · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Student Association (CSA) seeks to enrich the faith journeys of students inspired by the Catholic faith at Pepperdine by providing a community of love and support, fostering exploration and growth in faith”
      The Catholic Student Association is a student-led ministry listed on the university's Hub for Spiritual Life page.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (One Catholic student group listed: the Catholic Student Association.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Student-Led Ministries | Pepperdine Universitypepperdine.edu/spiritual-life/hub/student-led-ministries · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Student Association (CSA) seeks to enrich the faith journeys of students inspired by the Catholic faith at Pepperdine by providing a community of love and support, fostering exploration and growth in faith”
      The Catholic Student Association is a student-led ministry listed on the university's Hub for Spiritual Life page.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A Catholic Student Association is listed among the student-led ministries of the university's Hub for Spiritual Life.
    Sources (1)
    1. Student-Led Ministries | Pepperdine Universitypepperdine.edu/spiritual-life/hub/student-led-ministries · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Student Association (CSA) seeks to enrich the faith journeys of students inspired by the Catholic faith at Pepperdine by providing a community of love and support, fostering exploration and growth in faith”
      The Catholic Student Association is a student-led ministry listed on the university's Hub for Spiritual Life page.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic clubs and student life

1 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 1 location not published

Clubs and groups 1

  • Catholic Student Association (CSA)
    Student association that seeks to enrich the faith journeys of Catholic students at Pepperdine. Listed among the Hub for Spiritual Life's student-led ministries.
    pepperdine.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
86 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.83%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.88%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,384 · ACT 30.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.12 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$10,390

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
3,629
Total students9,545
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$58,098
Cost of attendance (per year)$93,512
Median federal debt at graduation$23,510
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
83%
First-year retention88%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$82,939
Admission rate63%
Students receiving Pell grants20%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1384
SAT reading & writing650–710
SAT math640–740
ACT composite29–32
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 58 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

The Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: lacatholics.org, lacatholics.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 121150
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
  • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Churches of Christ
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Pepperdine University a Catholic college?
No. Pepperdine University is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is Churches of Christ. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.

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