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Loyola Marymount TCU Baylor UT Austin Chapman UT Dallas USD Texas A&M Tulane Oxy Rice SCU| Pepperdine University | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
| Location | Malibu, CA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 9,545 | 11,842 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #143 | #71 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pepperdine.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,990 | $57,212 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,990 | $57,212 | ||
| Room & Board | $23,270 | $18,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $52,216 | $45,792 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,986 | $36,850 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 69% |
Admission |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,457 | 15,092 | ||
| Admitted | 6,210 | 9,240 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 49.9% | 61.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.8% | 17.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/32 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1450 | 1320/1480 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $71,700 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $222 |
Diversity |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 47% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 55% | ||
Campus |
Pepperdine | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 9,545 students)
Pepperdine vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or SMU?
- Pepperdine University is 15.3% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($65,990.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- Out of state tuition is 15.3% higher at Pepperdine than Southern Methodist University ($65,990.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Methodist University than Pepperdine ($45,792 vs. $52,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 27.6% lower than costs at Pepperdine University ($18,230 vs. $23,270)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pepperdine University than Southern Methodist University (91% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 11.7% larger than aid received Pepperdine University ($36,850 vs. $32,986)
Pepperdine vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Pepperdine .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 104 points higher than at Pepperdine (1226)
- Incoming SMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Pepperdine (28)
- Accepted freshman Pepperdine students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (61.2%) than Pepperdine (49.9%)
Pepperdine vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Pepperdine or SMU? 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 SMU and Pepperdine.
- The graduation rate at Pepperdine is higher than Southern Methodist University (81% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Pepperdine graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $71,700)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Pepperdine graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
- SMU graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Pepperdine graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
- More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/