Pepperdine University

Private university · Los Angeles County

Pepperdine University

Private university · Los Angeles County

1

24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263

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Pepperdine University by null
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Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
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Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null
Pepperdine University by null

Highlights

Scenic Christian university with Pacific views & strong academics  

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24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263 Get directions

pepperdine.edu

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24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263 Get directions

+1 310 506 4000
pepperdine.edu

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
assistive hearing loop
wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Aug 22, 2025

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A Running List of Malibu Restaurants That Have Temporarily Closed Due to the Franklin Wildfire - Eater LA

"A private university located in Malibu that is currently threatened by the Franklin Fire. Students have been ordered to shelter in place." - Matthew Kang

https://la.eater.com/2024/12/10/24318084/malibu-restaurants-closed-wildfire-december-2024-temporary
View Postcard for Pepperdine University

Rick Dugum

Google
One of the best universities in LA, went on a tour and loved everything about it, the view of the beach is beautiful

CJ Jeon

Google
My daughter is attending summer school and moved in the domitory today. Paied class ruition and domitory fee, but they were not prepared to receive students. The dormitory is not cleaned at all, and the place to unload the stuff from the car is blocked. So I tried to unload the stuff at the near parking lot, and a school police tagetted me, kept following me, and issued a violation ticket. His attitude is so rude, and I will complain things happened to me and my daughter today to the management of school. They are always deligent to collect money by sending emails from the parents, but provide no services. It's the worst school ever. I really regret having my daughter study this school.

Alison Kinnie

Google
I just got a call from an admissions counselor who was not listening to my words and therefore condescendingly believed he was correcting me. I asked him a direct question about the professors’ areas of expertise to which he replied “is there anything else I can help you with?” No sir, I don’t think you can.

Cassidy Lewis

Google
Every single man I’ve met, who either attends or has graduated from Pepperdine, is so creepy. For example, I’m a 16 year old girl and recently, my friend, who is my age, has been stalked by a Pepperdine graduate (26). He knows she is underage and he’s even followed us into school into our CLASSROOMS. It’s gotten to a point where we’ve had to call the cops. Sure come here if you love Malibu and Christianity but do NOT come here for a man; chances are they are talking to little girls.

Dyron B Daughrity

Google
Great place to go to college, surf, make good friends, have sunshine 365 days a year, and, especially, to grow closer to the Lord.

J Holmes

Google
Beautiful campus and friendly staff. I visit yearly for a conference and am always happy with the scenic views and the hospitality.

briley11

Google
On September 11 every year the main lawn adjacent to PCH is adorned with thousands of flags. Each flag representing a person that died on 911. It’s truly beautiful and moving. It’s a great photo opportunity through the flags looking towards the Pacific Ocean. Go near sunset.

Marceline

Google
They treat non-traditional students like garbage here. They refuse to send me my diploma and the official transcripts that were sent to me were password locked. I have asked several times for these people to do what is right yet I still have to wait. It is completely ridiculous and this degree has been a waste of money because I have no proof that I ever finished now and they do not care. I have had to wait over a year for transcripts or a diploma to show for employment and still nothing. Avoid this place at all costs! It is not worth it to deal with the people that operate the registrar's office. They do not care about their students or if their actions are preventing a graduate from gainful employment. Some of the people who answer the phones are very rude for no reason. Have some class and take responsibility for your actions. This is unacceptable and I still do not understand what the issue is. I finished school and just want proof that I did accomplish that. Someone please explain to me why this school is not held accountable for these issues. Am I the only one unable to get my diploma or unlocked transcripts?
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Ronald M.

Yelp
September 21st is the date of the 9/11 memorial flag removal. Nearly 3,000 flags, placed annually at Pepperdine University to honor all the unfortunate victims on that dreadful day. Both American and International are represented; a solemn sight to behold. We volunteered for the removal, and it was quite a task. And other than the initial help from the Pepperdine Men's Basketball Team, at least until they had to return back to campus, average age of volunteers? 50 and over. And not as many of us as you might expect. But the minimal crew managed to complete our task; dismantling and wrapping, in just over 2 hours. We were scheduled for an estimated 3. One beautiful part of the day was the lack of any talk of Left or Right Wing Politics. Only a gathering of Americans of multiple backgrounds, coming together and unified in this sacred task.
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Diana E.

Yelp
Outstanding views, beautiful church, the list goes on and on! It's simply a wonderful campus!
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Michael T.

Yelp
Probably the most beautiful college campus in the world. And make no mistake, Pepperdine's strength as an institution lives up to the beauty of its idyllic location. For the undergraduate program, they offer world-class education in a liberal-arts style, with small class sizes that allow professors to form lasting relationships with students. At Pepperdine you aren't just watching the professor give a lecture, most of the time you are part of the learning process. Everyone knows who you are, and what you are doing, personally. Students learn from some really brilliant people and their lives improve because of it. Plus, Pepperdine has a set of values which is pretty clear as a Christian university. They follow these values but don't use them to exclude or attack others. There are many students of different beliefs at Pepperdine. The tolerant atmosphere allows for open discussion of issues that doesn't exist elsewhere. I had the good fortune to attend this university as an undergraduate, and it improved my life for the better personally and professionally. With its new president, the university is looking to expand its brand of academic inquiry and community further. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do in the coming years, as there is much promise.
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Marie F.

Yelp
On Our Way To The Beach We Saw This Beautiful 911 Rememberance Flag Display at Pepperdine University in Malibu. For every life that was lost on 911 there is a Flag displayed on the lawn and it is something to behold. I took a few pictures of the flags but it didn't capture the rest of the display that continued on. We all will never forget the tragic Events that happened on 911 or the lives that were lost. This is a beautiful way to honor them and I am so glad that my daughter and I were able to see this.

Ana A.

Yelp
After 3 years of back and forth and trying to get in not to mention every time, someone with different names, will call you back or pick up the phone and you have to go through everything you did last time with someone else, but also not only they're not helpful. They make everything so difficult and it's like you're entering to White House, the last time I was trying to tell and explain my situation the guy derek!couldn't even hear me out. He was just talking over me trying to prove a point he even mentioned Miss Audra was not helping you. I don't see that she was helping you so I'll be the one helping you which at the end he never helped me with anything and disappointing me and I'm so glad I'm not going to go to this university because not only you're not welcome for entering to this university, but also they make a huge big deal out of everything and you feel like pretty much drained!There is always a bumps in front of you no thank you there so many other universities cheaper and more helpful and respectful!

London L.

Yelp
WORST ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. This school is approximately $95,000 a year and it's online. I attended their Masters in Legal Studies online program and it's my worst college experience to date. The program isn't worth the expensive price tag. It's not what I expected. I was given grades lower than what I earned based on this curved grading system. When I complained I was given lower grades to try to grade me out the program. After earning 16 hours of credits the Associate Academic Dean of the Law School used my University records to dig up personal information unassociated with attending school. In addition to this it was discovered that the school has been harboring a man who was arrested for soliciting a minor for sexual favors . The Law school was informed but they refused to address the matter http://malibudailynews.com/pepperdine-law-professor-caught-in-underage-predator-sting-operation/ After having a bad experience at the school I decided to request a refund. Instead of just refunding my tuition they demanded that I sign a settlement agreement instead of just providing a standard refund. This agreement demanded that I give up any rights to speak about my experience and to never file a lawsuit. They refused to increase the amount to something reasonable because they had also contacted all my prior schools and bad mouthed me. They also contacted the state and IRS to tell these agencies that I was receiving the funds and included language in the settlement agreement that would authorize them to do so. They were. Planning to send the refund to the state and IRS after signing instead of giving it to me. They refused to allow me to register, thus holding my degree hostage. and ultimately trying to leave me with nothing related to the tuition refund. After a thorough review of the agreement I decided not to sign it. They had used my personal information to bad mouth me to my employers, post documents with my personal information and any other public information they could find. Suddenly there was a bunch of negative information about me placed on the internet unassociated with me that I believe the Dean posted or had someone else post. Then when I removed my financial aid from the school it was discovered that the school had put all types of false statements on my financial aid file in an attempt to prevent me from attending another school with my financial aid. The next school I went was kind enough to inform me if this negative information. Then after taking the last 3 classes suddenly I was getting bad grades on my homework and other assignments. I don't recommend this school because it was very expensive, the administrators appear racist and very insensitive to African American people. They don't want to address students concerns they ignore students concerns and support administration even when they are wrong. I have proof of my experience and many students are disappointed but stay because the credits will not transfer to another school. It's a financial trap that will leave you with credits you can't use if you don't do well in the program, get flunked out the program and graded out. Instead of the instructor providing the grades in the class a committee gets together to decide who will get good grades or not in the program. The grades come out 4 weeks after the class is over. They use this grading system that's ultimately discriminatory because it's not based on merit it's based on this committee deciding if your good enough to receive a degree from their school or not. Most people just leave and move on. I wanted my degree and it's very hurtful how mean and cruel they have been to me. Now I have over $65,000 in student loan debt and no degree. Go to another school your better off especially if you are African American.
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Annette B.

Yelp
Gorgeous institution with wonderful staff. It's unbelievably etched into the mountains and there is so much to see and enjoy here. Academics are at the forefront, but there is an array of beautiful art and architecture on the grounds--not to mention the natural beauty all around the campus.
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Joyce G.

Yelp
Visited 7/26/2017 Came for a campus tour. Many came to visit the campus, so we had to break into two groups. Really nice waiting area while we waited for our tour guide. They offered water, coffee, and tea which was a nice touch. Nice looking campus. It's mostly a non-commuter school. GPA average about 3.6 Need to attend weekly services at Christ of the Church as part of the curriculum. Beautiful church. They hold weddings here. Stain glass is BEAUTIFUL!! Didn't see much of the dorms, but what I did see, I wasn't impressed. Much better looking dorms at Cal State Northridge. Interesting that they have about five campuses in other parts of the world (China, London to name a few) to study abroad at. Love the small class sizes. Beautiful Olympic size pools and tennis courts. Did you know that they filmed Battle of the Network Stars here? Cool!! They were expanding/doing construction on the campus while we were there. Impressive view of the ocean. The drive took about an hour from our neck of the woods.
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Wayne S.

Yelp
Pepperdine University,Malibu California. Situated beautifully on the hills near the California coastline and iconic community of Malibu, Pepperdine University is one of the nations premiere academic campuses ! Aerial photo by:Wayne Salvatti . . . . . #pepperdine #pepperdineuniversity #malibu #malibucalif #malibucalifornia #aerial #aerialphotography #iconiccampuses #malibucolony #californiadreamin #californiadreaming #godisgood #waynesalvatti #photografxworldwide #ilovepepperdine #williethewave #freelyyereceivedfreelygive #ilovemalibu #ilovepepperdine #instapepperdine #worldfamous
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Mark O.

Yelp
Pepperdine university is not only world class but deserves every achieved rank in the top 50 schools in the United States. NSO (New student orientation) 2017 was a memorable experience for parents and students. I am proud of my state school education and loyal to my crimson and gold but this university is without peer. I can hardly wait to come back to the campus again to see my daughter learn and grow. #GoWaves
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Victoria V.

Yelp
Talk about a dreamy campus! Although it was cloudy the day that I attended, there is usually a beautiful overlook of the ocean. The campus is well kept with beautiful flowers and trees. There baseball stadium is always fun to visit as well. Unfortunately, food options are not consistently available on campus, which led to me eating sour gummies from the campus bookstore. The campus bookstore was great and had wonderful customer service.
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Roger L.

Yelp
This review is for the "Wave Cafe" dining commons on the Pepperdine campus. And as an eating establishment open to the public, why not? Pluses - On the beautiful Pepperdine campus overlooking Malibu and the Pacific Ocean. Get a sit by the windows or on the patio for incredible evening views - Salad bar with a nice variety of vegetables - fresh made soups and breads - ethnic specialties like Hot Pot, Terriyaki, and Italian dishes - Pizza bar - $6.99 dinners Minuses - may get crowded, and the number of people serving is limited - noises, but not too unexpectedly so Overall - Fun to hang out with the students and get nice meal at a good price. May be a nice change of pace from some of the expensive Malibu restaurants!
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Tim E.

Yelp
Talk about a beautiful campus! It is truly beautiful and with a view of our precious Pacific Coast . The Cafeteria is grand with a fire place to hang out at. I love the view I can't stop loving it. The campus is clean and the grasses are green all around. The only con I have is it can get very gusty with winds that can rock your car back and forth.
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Janna L.

Yelp
We did not spend a lot of time here but the weekend staff that we did interact with were very nice and welcoming. Including the gate guard. All visitors welcomed. We had a recommendation from friends to go visit the fountain area of Hero's Garden. Beautiful and sobering. You would find yourself all the way up the hill at the conference buildings so you can see all of the beautifully kept grounds and the ocean. You are under a great big American flag and you can sit on benches and relax or read, have a coffee. There are large rocks everywhere with quotes from famous people of the past and many of the walkway stones have lovely psalms. The sound of the fountain itself is my favorite thing about this place. And then that view. The area is very clean too. Lots of parking. I am not sure how, if I had ever gone to school here, I would ever have been able to study here due to the distractions. Or maybe I would have been inspired even more for extra greatness. Not sure but I do know that I will be making a point to visit here more often.
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Charles P.

Yelp
WHAT IS IT? Ranked #54 as one of the top universities in the nation. With a Law school that is ranked #1 in dispute. It is a private university that is built on a Christian foundation. WHERE: the University is situated in a secluded place in the Malibu Hills. ATMOSPHERE:I read somewhere prior to coming to Pepperdine that school was ranked numerous times as the most beautiful campus in the nation, most recently in 2004 and 2007. When I went there, they were not Kidding! The entire school could be considered a 5 star resort! It feels like where ever you go, you get either a view of the pacific ocean or the Malibu Hills. What I do is wake up in the morning and drive up to the Graduate school of Education and Psychology. The Education building is on the to of the hill; one of the highest buildings on campus. There I would sit on the patio that has a round table with white umbrellas. I would look out and see the view of the school below and the endless beauty of the blue, pacific ocean. PARKING: Seems like parking is free in most areas on campus. OVERALL: The school is super clean! There are countless janitors and gardeners working day and night to make sure the campus is spotless. Awesome school! . DID YOU KNOW? A benefactor approached USC in the 1960s if they wanted to move to Malibu for free, but they turned it down because they wanted to help the community. Pepperdine was also situated in South Central near USC and they were approached after USC declined. Pepperdine gladly took the spot for $1 I believe. However, the school needed money to build buildings so they sold a piece of property on the lower right side of the school for housing which helped them raise funds to build the school.
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Brooke Z.

Yelp
5 STARS FOR MY ALMA MATER! #Soblessed to have attended such a fabulous school! Most class sizes are small (20 students), which allows you to more easily build relationships with the professors and your peers. The teachers' offices are located right by the classrooms and they definitely encourage students to come to their office hours. The biggest piece of advice I can offer in terms of academics is to go to office hours- I got help on assignments and even advice for applying for jobs! I also had the privilege of doing research with a group of professors. This is something not a lot of people realize is an opportunity, but if you ask any professor they will be happy to help you get involved. Sports aren't really a big thing here, and the lack of school spirit is one of my least favorite parts. However, I found a home in Greek life, so I would advise new students to rush if this is something they're interested in.
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Yonnie C.

Yelp
This review is purely based on our visit to Heroes Garden inside Pepperdine University (near the business school). It was our first time on the Pepperdine campus, and we were greeted by the visitor's kiosk as we entered the campus. The security personnel was very friendly and gave us directions on how to get to Heroes Garden. Upon arriving at the Garden, we were awestruck by the magnificent view. This outdoor sanctuary was created in 2003 in memory of the 9/11 events. I just wish it wasn't so cloudy in the morning, because the view would have been 5x better with the sun out at full force There were benches/chairs in the sanctuary, where people could sit and look out into the ocean. It was lovely... I can see how students would enjoy studying in this area to find a quiet and peaceful respite...
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Lin C.

Yelp
What an amazing university! Spoke to students coming in which were extremely excited to be part of this Beautiful and prestige university! Walked around this gorgeous campus with breathtaking views and diversity in the population and it felt as if you were walking among a close circle of friends ! What a great university! Great experience!
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Jasmine S.

Yelp
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! A fun place to go on weekends, just to visit and sit in the grass at the little park area. Knocked out here for 2 hours with my little pup and it was by far the best nap of my LIFE. It felt like a literal heaven, and it was so quiet- it was also not too crowded so it felt like a little private oasis. Definitely recommend checking out the campus- it's gorgeous and an amazing school also.
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Sadri B.

Yelp
this is the college that i would have enjoyed spending 7 years or more just for the joy of daydreaming in class while looking out the window toward the super blue pacific ocean. after visiting the west la. campus. we hit the malibu campus and wow why would anyone be in a hurry to graduate. the campus is huge with a bunch of small buildings housing the many classrooms and other offices and dorms . went to the book store but i aint getting books but i am getting shirts and hoodies with the pepperdine label. my cuz and i was able to do our own private tour which included watching cheerleaders practice which we found very interesting and enjoyable. the views of the ocean and the scenic valley with palm trees all around is worth a years tuition. even with its beautiful grounds pepperdine is a top notch school on the west coast and any college that had tia and tamara (sister sister) as students is cool with me.
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Timothy M.

Yelp
This place is more church than it is a university. Undergrads are required to earn an additional 18 units, 9 credits of Humanities & 9 credits of Religion, on top of your traditional 120 units for a Bachelors. As well as 14 hours of "convo" each semester (look it up). Every staff / faculty member who works here complains about their pay to anyone who will listen. Student advisors and counselors will try to impress upon you their administrative powers. Student Veterans: Both, as a Yellow Ribbon student and (at about 3/4 of the way thru) as a VocRehab (Ch.33) student, Ella from student accounts would withhold all my grants and loans until the government paid the tuition it owed on my behalf. This place is known for its vistas not their academics. You won't build much of a portfolio to show employers just by going here. Students in the Arts programs here focused more on who to know rather then what to know. Very "Right Wing" policies. Good WiFi in the buildings, not so much outside.
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Mary Ann C.

Yelp
What a beautiful campus! I wish I had visited when they had all of their flags out on the lawn. I like everything I hear about this university and would be one happy mom if either of my children go there. With small class size and views of the pacific who wouldn't want to go here.
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Dr. Col C.

Yelp
Do not bother. They have a distaste for gay people. I do not understand how this can be so blatant nowadays in CA. Once you get past the superficial it falls flat. Subpar everything. At this price I expected a lot. Spend the money at UCLA or USC or heck, University of Phoenix! You get what you pay for there.
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Lissa G.

Yelp
Went here for Grad school and enjoyed the beauty of the environment, the personal attention from staff and professors, the variety of food offered on campus, and, most importantly, the amount of money I received in my fellowship, making tuition almost nothing! =) For me, my experience was greatly heightened by my classmates: all teachers who were furthering their own education through the American Studies program. It was nice to have a group of like-minded students who experience similar things on a day to day basis and who, in most cases, were a bit (or a whole lot!) less conservative (religiously speaking) than a stereotypical Pepperdine student. I had a great time and learned tons!
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Sera C.

Yelp
Got my Executive MBA here and thoroughly enjoyed the overall program. I really liked how they had a set course and that I worked with the same group of people for the whole duration. There are definitely some areas I wish we focused on more, such as Finance and Strategy, vs some of the other parts of the program (such as Social Behavior). Loved the International trip.

Carol H.

Yelp
Took my $150 application fee and provided neither an acceptance to denial letter. These people are scam artists.

Scott T.

Yelp
Don't even think about wasting your time visiting or applying to Pepperdine University unless you are prepared to pay full price of about 60k a year. Pepp has what could be called, IMHO, a winner-take-all financial aid department. Unless you are a member of one of four groups at Pepp, you may get very little CASH (as opposed to loans) fin-aid: 1. Top ten percent of admitted students based on GPA and SAT, ACT, etc. 2. A member of The Church of Christ. 3. Scholarship athletes. 4. A combination of 1, 2, or3 (!). If you're not a member of one of these groups, you may very well get zero cash, like my Pepp admitted daughter who has a 4.25 GPA and an SAT of 2170. Note that admission to Pepp is EXTREMELY competitive, and even if you are admitted, your incoming class rank could be much lower than at other colleges. You could kill yourself for four years of high school AP classes and multiple SAT"s and not be in the top ten percent at Pepp, qualifying you for zero merit aid. Check out Pepp's website for the details. Let me explain typical private college fin-aid. The two main types of aid are merit based (GPA and standard test like SAT based) and need based ( based on the FAFSA) Most college's merit based finaid has a high school GPA threshold of about 3.5, with a college maintenance threshold of about 3.0. Actual dollar amount is a sliding scale based on SAT and ACT test scores. Translation: if you've got a 3.5 or higher in high school, you will be offered a chunk of money paid over four years, as long as you maintain a GPA of 3.0 in college. This the good stuff, with many private universities offering merit scholarships to half or more of admitted students. Example: my daughter got offered 78K over four years at several west coast private colleges; Pepp offered her 0. Need based aid is based on the standard FAFSA form, with annual income being the main factor. Private grants are common, with very low income required for federal Pell grants. These awards are for one year. Grants are good, but the amounts are usually less than merit scholarships. Example: my daughter was offered 5.5K of private grant money for next year by a private west coast university based on about 55K of annual income; Pepp offered her 0. (Loans are also considered need based aid. Hence colleges can make claims like 80 or 90 percent of students receive finaid.) So here is where it gets interesting. Pepp has a finaid calculator (with LOTS of disclaimers) on it's website that calculates my daughter could get 29.7K of cash annually. Actual amount offered: 0. Pepperdine's Seaver college says it pays out over 54 million annually in cash finaid. Divide that by the 3000 students and you get about 18K apiece on AVERAGE. Take a moment and bend your mind around THOSE stats. Our experience indicates that it's probable some students get much more, while other students get much less. Another way to look at it: Pepperdine could simply eliminate all their financial aid, and lower the tuition cost for ALL students by 18K. After all, only exceptional and deserving students are admitted in the first place. So why not visit? Because if you visit, you WILL want to attend. If you're fortunate enough to be admitted, you could face a very painful choice: give up the dream, or fork over 240k plus for a bachelor's degree.
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Jessica B.

Yelp
This is probably the worst college for kids with financial aid need!!! The worst financial counselors I have ever seen! Please do not send your children to this school, expensive and do not worth it!!!!!!
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Hanh N.

Yelp
Came here today for a graduation ceremony. the campus is very serene : colors of green and blue everywhere since the campus has nice green grass and sits atop a hill so you can see the ocean :) the entire city of Malibu seems to be all about nature and ocean and this school fits the description. came on the weekend so I parked free on the campus
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Amy F.

Yelp
Yelp said my review was too long. But I can't express my sentiments in 5001 characters. So if you're actually willing to really research this school and read a crazy long document, here's the review in its full glory for you. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RIkAMOy6c8HCqnoEWM8PjU79CDBi8oyAjylyFpfVSWU I take this yelp college shit really seriously.
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Mia T.

Yelp
The one major issue I have with Pepperdine is that very few people enjoy the campus. You get on, get into class and get off...speedily. Before I started at P'dine I was warned to live off campus by any means necessary. Campus is dead and there is such a lack of community. Sure, the campus is gorgeous and Deer frolic outside of your classrooms, but what really makes a college experience is the community and friendships you take away from it. I am happy to say that I'll walk away with a degree from Pepperdine University and following me will be the prestige, but I've really felt I've been missing out on the "college life." For 48,000 a year you get teachers that cancel classes last minute, measly cafeteria food and horrendous parking situations. Simply not enough parking for the number of students.
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Jo E.

Yelp
Absolutely NOT the most beautiful school in America. Best VIEW for a college- I would have to say YES. I am signed up for a three year program here for work, and every spring I have the pleasure of packing my suitcase, heading North, and staying on campus in their Graduate dorms to live the student life (yet again). I enjoy getting onto campus with each arrival- the drive up the hill through the gates at the South entrance feels important and majestic. The gate guard sometimes gives good directions, sometimes not. The students assigned to Campus Events which help at the registration are always a bit confused, and generally let you know so with an air of cockiness. Ahh, students.. gotta miss those days! The Drescher dorms are ridiculously similar to jail cells, especially off-season when we "get" to stay in them. There are 4 separate sleeping quarters to a room, a shared living room, and a shared shower. The beds are ikea-type mattresses covered in the vinyl (for accidents? in case the grad students haven't graduated from being housebroken yet?) and the flat sheet (not fitted) works really well (NOT) staying put on the plastic mattress. BUT- at least they are clean, and I imagine if a student actually did move in for a semester, they would probably have their own beds and bedding moved in. The rooms also have a window that opens (phew!) and a small desk, file cabinet, chair, and wireless internet. I am comparing these suites to some I have seen elsewhere, and looks-wise, they are not the best by far- but they are adequate for a week of studies. The cafeteria/conference center at the top of the hill is comfortable, and it's truly amazing how they make one meal last all week long (chicken with random sauce), just by changing the color of the sauce at each sitting. It's not bad stuff, just bad for you; very heavy and saucy, breakfast, lunch and dinner. To work off some of that, we had access to the tiny gym by the dorms (always packed) and could also trek down to the track and field area. Or, many students opted to run the hilly streets, in search of deer, coyote, and Pam Anderson (they usually only found deer). The view is amazing, when there's no Marine Layer... as hoped many of the students from out of state. We had a couple of sunny days- so clear that you could almost see Santa Monica Pier, and of course, Catalina. The best place for a few minutes to be reflective and stare out onto the Pacific is the 9-11 Memorial at the top of the hill by the Conference Center. Be sure to read the meaning of it all and the artist's interpretation as you walk through. It brings a lot more significance to the small garden over the ocean. You'll notice as you drive through campus that the building themselves are verrrryyyy plain and ugly. No brick, no stone- just a bunch of blah stucco. Maybe the architects wanted them to blend in with the sand and not distract from the gajillion-dollar ocean view. Or maybe they just weren't feeling that creative. Or maybe they wanted something good for dinner and a beer to boot, and gave up, because the closest thing to that from campus is not within walking distance. Someone from my class tried it (out-of-towner,) and learned the hard way that Angelenos really DON'T walk anywhere- and it's a must to have a car. She got halfway between campus and the nearest shopping plaza, and called someone to pick her up, since she was tired of dodging cars on PCH, where there is no pedestrian median. Speak to any student on campus, and they LOVE their school. Ask them a few more questions, and find out 100% of the time that they really DON'T know how they are going to pay off their ridiculous student loans. A little more probing, and find out that YES, none of their friends have found jobs yet. But hey, at least they got deer.
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Peter N.

Yelp
ACADEMICS: are fairly weak compared to other major universities in southern California. The faculty is not particularly distinguished, and the school is not particularly selective in terms of quality of the student body. They are clearly outclassed by public universities such as UCLA, Cal State (Northridge, Los Angeles, Long Beach) and private universities such as LMU, Pitzer, and Pomona. CAMPUS: is fairly plain and unimpressive. Too many people mistake a good view for a beautiful campus, which this is not. It is fairly small, and lacks great facilities and gathering places. STUDENT LIFE: is quite bad. Due to the fundamentalist Christian affiliation of the school, students are required to attend services a certain number of times per semester (you have to swipe your student ID so they can keep track). It is a long drive to any real nightlife or activity, as the campus is quite isolated.
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Amber S.

Yelp
I didn't know you could review colleges - but what do ya know, apparently you can! So here goes: I'm a senior now here & I love it. College on the beach just can't be beat. Amazing people. And the abroad programs are unparalleled! If you're thinking about coming to pepp - do it. One of the best decisions of my life :) MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION: kick the stereotypes out of your head right now. Yes it's Christian, but not everyone here is religious. Want to be a bible study person? You can! Want to be a party animal? You can do that too! There's a crowd here for everyone - it's college, there's all kinds of people and fun to get involved with no matter what you're looking for. Greek life rules (I'm a Tri-Delt so I'm biased to that being the best lol) but all are fun groups of guys and gals. Plus, the food here is pretty dope as well *Shoutout to the froyo machine on campus* Also, there's no curfew...idk why that rumor is even a thing. Message me for any more questions - i'd be happy to answer! Xo & ayo waves :)
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Joz Joz Joz W.

Yelp
Pros: 1) Beautiful campus! 2) Pretty decent school reputation 3) Solid education 4) Good professors Cons: 1) Expensive as all heck; massive student loan debt 2) Wild fires. Lots of them 3) Hard to get to the Malibu campus from anywhere other than Malibu 4) Big ass phallic symbol on the lawn (this one is courtesy of Makoky D) Kicker: It's all worth it when you graduate with your family and friends around you with a gorgeous view overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I'll probably feel this way until I have to make my first student loan payment, anyway.
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Lauren K.

Yelp
I attended Pepp from 2006-2010 as an undergrad... and I loved every second of it. It is a small school so it is not for everyone, but it was perfect for me. 1. The view... Pictures don't do it justice. Just come visit and you will fall in love. 2. The professors... they are almost all great and they invest in the students lives. Always willing to help as long as you are willing to ask. 3. The International programs... Sooo many students participate in an overseas program. I don't know the percentage, but it very high. Pepperdine has great programs set up in select countries around the world and everyone has the time of their life when they go. 4. The community... you cannot walk to class without seeing a ton of people you know. People are very friendly and that makes the world of difference during college It is a Christian college but you don't have to be Christian to attend. I loved the Christian aspect of it though... I think that's why the community is so wonderful. I could go on and, but you should really check it out for yourself!
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James L.

Yelp
Sadly, the previous comment is worthless as a measure of the quality of education offered at Pepperdine University School of Law. There is obviously no objectivity on the part of the reviewer, when he dismisses with one star one of the best law schools on the west coast. Dean Starr, as distinguished a career as he has had, is not Pepperdine. To equate the two is a fallacy. Dean Starr is a conservative. Big surprise, huh? He has had an outstanding career, which has included being the Solicitor General of the United States. He represents a traditional view of the law that does not allow federal judges to create new "rights" and overrule the will of the voters and the current Constitution of the State of California. Rather than discussing the issues involved and the deeply contended issues of legal philosophy and American jurisprudence, the reviewer dismisses this as "discrimination," no doubt using the simplistic and naive terminology of Prop. 8 opponents that claim the opposition to gay marriage to stem from "hate." Pepperdine University School of Law offers one of the outstanding experiences that law school students have available anywhere in the country. It has a gorgeous campus, an outstanding and accessible faculty, and programs that are among the highest ranked in the nation. Its dispute resolution program ranks as the top in the United States, outranking Harvard and Yale. Its London program is among the best international study opportunities available anywhere, with students given the opportunity to spend an entire semester studying in London, gaining experience in international law and politics. The global justice program presents students with the opportunity to work for human rights and the rule of law in countries all over the globe. Pepperdine has nothing to apologize for. Its former Dean, Mr. Starr, valiantly and successfully defended the will of the voters of California in court. For this reason, the law school deserves the most inferior rating possible, despite the fact that the law professors at Pepperdine, although often conservative, represent the broad spectrum of legal thought and philosophy? I think not, and any objective person would think not. Sadly, being "fair-minded" apparently doesn't apply to leaving comments in a public internet forum.
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Jennie L.

Yelp
I got the opportunity to spend a week at the beautiful Pepperdine University thanks to my Youth Citizenship Seminar this summer. I was amazed of the beautiful combination of the weather and beauty of this university! I don't remember even seeing a spec of trash on campus, I'm serious! All I can remember while walking around every morning till night was how lucky I was to stay at this amazing college while attending the event. - Cafeteria buffet was delicious! The workers there were soo nice even though they would have to get up so early in the morning and cook to feed all the students rushing in during the morning, afternoon, and evening. They offer about everything from Italian pasta, Korean style noodles, to Pizza, Chicken Tenders, and Deli Sandwiches. Uh, basically, you name it-they have it. I really appreciate the great service. I had the beach view every day when eating my meal, can you say.. paradise? - The dorms are extremely large compared to other colleges. I had a roommate and there was no problem with space. We both had our own table and drawers too! Although it was quite cold at night, but you know what? That was the nice Malibu ocean breeze! I loved walking down the trail outside my dorm with the view of the tennis courts and sport areas. I felt so safe at Pepperdine, hmm.. I'm considering applying here for college! I was so comfortable here and I feel like I know the college well.
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J T.

Yelp
Its not for everyone, but if you have a love for people, academics and the higher road of leadership through service, this might be a great fit for you. Be aware that it is a dry campus--no blatant partying going on here. It is a Christian-faith based school, United Church of Christ-friendly. Convocation will be in your vocabulary if you attend here. Professors are wonderful, class sizes are small, as with most private institutions of this size. Facilities are great, awesome performing arts program, business school and law school. Heroes Garden atop the Drescher Graduate Campus was always my favorite spot to clear my head, meditate and get back to the bump and grind of academia. The University also has an Executive Centre where guests can check in and stay. Overall, a very rewarding experience...that I am still paying for on the 2nd of each month to wellsfargo.com and citibankstudentloans.com, and that is WITH scholarship assistance. :-/ Small price to pay for the preparation of a "Life of Purpose, Service & Leadership"? Perhaps. LOL oh heck, the motto is, after all, "Freely ye receive, freely ye give."
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alex C.

Yelp
No, I actually don't go to Pepperdine (although after a few visits, it makes just about anybody wish they did). The campus is absolutely gorgeous with some of the best ocean views you can have anywhere. The students are lucky here to live and go to school in a place where people usually shell out millions on top of millions to buy up land and enjoy the same view. I'm reviewing the tennis courts and the grassy knoll. I've come out here with my Pepperdine friends on occasion to rally around and enjoy the scenery, which again, is amazing. The courts here are very well kept in the front and are usually available on the weekends for use, as long as the tennis teams aren't practicing. There's more courts inside the gates as well, if they're all occupied out front. Free parking is available on the streets off PCH.
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Hiroshi I.

Yelp
The name of this school has been familiar to me, but it wasn't until recently that I set foot on this campus when I got hired to play in the pit orchestra for the school's Les Miserables production. Always show up early to a gig to find out where you're supposed to be! Also, restrooms are sometimes difficult to find. My interactions with the students here were very uplifting! They were very friendly and helpful locating all of the facilities I needed to get to! It's as if they enjoyed giving out directions!
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Ed T.

Yelp
Amazing! What a beautiful campus. Came here with my son checking out the prospect for him to come here in the fall of 2016. This has to be one of the most beautiful campus in the world! I feel like I am in Hawaii! Imagine living here takes my breath away!
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George F.

Yelp
I wanted to come back and check out my Alma Mater after 30+ years. It was a beautiful day and drive down PCH. The school is as beautiful as ever just bigger with more buildings. Took some pictures and reminisced about the years why I choose to come to Pepperdine, how I got here and the times I had here. Great School! Go Waves!
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Ace T.

Yelp
Our son is now on his second study abroad adventure through Pepperdine, and the whole experience is wonderful! He is a Hispanic Studies major and was accepted to the Buenos Aires, Argentina study abroad program. Although he only spent the Fall semester there, most of the students apply for and spend both semesters there. All of the students are paired with a homestay in Argentina, and he was placed with a wonderful family who took great care of him! He took 18 credit hours, taught by Pepperdine professors, and his excursions were legendary: canoeing the Antarctic waters off of the southern tip of South America, after a snowboarding trip to Ushuaia, Argentina. He went horseback riding at a lovely ranch in the countryside, and he went skydiving (these are all optional activities, but I'm so glad he maximized his experience!) Now he is in Madrid, Spain, for the summer study abroad program and we just visited him when he took a weekend field trip to Barcelona. He is fluent in Spanish (they require the students to only speak to each other in Spanish), he has completed 6 more credit hours during this summer abroad program, and his financial aid applies to his summer tuition also, so he only has to pay for the program fee. We are SO thrilled our son is at the right school for him! Ayo Waves!
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Matthew H.

Yelp
The views here are spectacular. I don't think another school in the U.S. can compete with Pepperdine University.
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An L.

Yelp
Beautiful campus. How the hell do students study here? If I was here I would just go to the beach and romance my lover 24/7. I came here for the Leyendecker exhibition, and my mind was blown. Museum was set up nicely, collections were displayed wonderfully, and I really enjoyed the view driving up. I really recommend visiting this campus. It's beautiful!
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Heather C.

Yelp
Bear and i would go to the top of Pepperdine University's hill and run down it- roll down it and just play in the massive green grass. Kidding. Not! It looked like it would be so much fun for us to do this.
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Kaitlyn W.

Yelp
Beautiful campus beautiful view amazing education and a great baseball team. truly couldn't get any better and not to mention zoey 101 was filmed here... This is one of the prettiest schools I've ever seen in a great location.
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Chris S.

Yelp
They said they would take 6-8 weeks to process my application. It's now been 10 weeks since I've applied and still no rejection or acceptance notification. This is not how a law school should treat their applicants, it only reflects badly on the law school as a whole; I can't imagine how badly they run their law school program if they can't even efficiently process applications.