Pepperdine vs Cal Baptist
Pepperdine University and California Baptist University, both located in Southern California, offer distinct educational experiences for prospective students. Pepperdine, a private research university, boasts a lower acceptance rate (33%) compared to California Baptist University's (58%). Pepperdine's student body is smaller and more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students. In terms of academics, Pepperdine offers a wider range of undergraduate majors, including popular choices like business, communication, and psychology, while California Baptist University focuses primarily on liberal arts and sciences, with strengths in nursing, education, and business. Both universities offer strong graduation rates, with Pepperdine's slightly higher at 86% compared to California Baptist University's 83%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic goals and preferences.
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![]() California Baptist University |
![]() Pepperdine University |
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Overview |
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Location | Riverside, California | Malibu, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 93.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Churches of Christ |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 63.7% | 52.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
|
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
|
SAT range | N/A | 1260 - 1440 |
ACT range | N/A | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 19.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 3.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 9,474 | 11,855 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,038 | 6,249 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,372 | 1,024 |
Yield rate | 22.7% | 16.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $60,240 | $80,152 |
Average net price | $23,494 | $40,945 |
Tuition | $34,918 | $59,450 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,010
Meal plan:
$6,070
|
$16,700 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $23,083 |
96.0%
Average amount $36,967 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
63.0%
Average amount $5,158 |
38.0%
Average amount $5,171 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $17,717 |
9.0%
Average amount $12,899 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
8,252
Men 36.5% Women 63.5% |
3,708
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
Graduate students |
3,237
Men 26.2% Women 73.8% |
6,738
Men 30.2% Women 69.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 5.8% | 46.9% |
International students | 2.7% | 8.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,707 | 2,579 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Oregon Nevada Texas Washington | California Texas Washington Colorado Arizona |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 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 |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 56.7% | 83.0% |
Dropout rate | 13.4% | 16.6% |
Transferred out | 27.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
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