Pepperdine vs. Emerson

Should I go to Pepperdine University or Emerson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Pepperdine or Emerson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Loyola Marymount Chapman USD Oxy SCU USC UCLA BU UCSB NYU Fordham Westmont College
Pepperdine University vs. Emerson College comparison
Pepperdine University Emerson College College 3 College 4
Pepperdine University Emerson College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Pepperdine Emerson
Location Malibu, CA Boston, MA
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 10,030 5,891
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #127 #235
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pepperdine.edu emerson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pepperdine Emerson
Tuition (In State) $62,390 $52,288
Tuition (Out of State) $62,390 $52,288
Room & Board $18,560 $19,528
Avg Net Price $47,804 $51,432
Avg Grant Aid $32,348 $24,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 78%

Admission

Pepperdine Emerson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,466 12,109
Admitted 5,585 5,176
Acceptance Rate 48.7% 42.7%
Enrolled % 16.9% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/32 30/32
SAT Range 1285/1480 1250/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Feb 20, 2024

Academics

Pepperdine Emerson
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)

Outcomes

Pepperdine Emerson
Graduation Rate 81% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,700 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $242

Diversity

Pepperdine Emerson
% Men 33% 28%
% Women 67% 72%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 47% 67%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 16% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 10% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

Pepperdine Emerson
% In-State 45% 14%
% Out-of-State 43% 69%

Campus

Pepperdine Emerson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Pepperdine University is larger than than Emerson based on total student enrollment (10,030 students vs. 5,891 students)

Pepperdine vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Emerson?

  • Pepperdine University is 19.3% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($62,390.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.3% higher at Pepperdine than Emerson College ($62,390.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pepperdine University than Emerson ($47,804 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pepperdine University are 5.2% lower than costs at Emerson College ($18,560 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than Emerson College (94% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pepperdine University students is 32.8% larger than aid received Emerson College ($32,348 vs. $24,360)

Pepperdine vs. Emerson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or Emerson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Emerson or Pepperdine .

  • The average SAT score at Pepperdine University (1226) is 15 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming Pepperdine students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Emerson (3.73)
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (48.7%) than Emerson (42.7%)

Pepperdine vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pepperdine or Emerson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Emerson and Pepperdine.

  • The graduation rate at Pepperdine is the same as at Emerson College (81% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Pepperdine University earn on average $22,500 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($71,700 vs. $49,200)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/