Pepperdine University

A commitment to purpose-driven education defines the intellectual life at Pepperdine University, where a Christian mission rooted in the Churches of Christ tradition shapes a liberal arts experience that welcomes students of every background and belief. Situated on 830 acres of breathtaking coastline in Malibu, California, Pepperdine's Seaver College offers an undergraduate education built around rigorous academics, ethical inquiry, and global engagement. The university's founding vision calls students to pursue truth through open dialogue, and this ethos permeates everything from the required general education courses in religion, philosophy, and humanities to the robust international programs that send students to campuses in Buenos Aires, Lausanne, London, Florence, Heidelberg, and Shanghai. With a student body representing dozens of countries and a campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Pepperdine provides a distinctive setting where spiritual reflection and scholarly ambition converge.

Experiential learning and close mentorship are hallmarks of the Pepperdine experience, supported by a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures meaningful interaction between students and professors. Undergraduate research opportunities, competitive departmental scholarships, and a network of international programs allow students to extend their education well beyond the Malibu campus. Pepperdine holds an R2 research classification, reflecting substantial scholarly activity that increasingly involves undergraduates. For international applicants, the university offers merit-based institutional scholarships—including the Blanche E. Seaver International Scholars' Awards and the Regents Scholars Program—though need-based institutional aid is limited to non-need-based awards for nonresident students. With approximately 92 percent of students receiving some form of financial assistance and a six-year graduation rate of 83 percent, Pepperdine prepares graduates to lead with integrity across professions and communities worldwide.