Pepperdine vs. St Olaf
Pepperdine University and St Olaf College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.
Pepperdine University
St Olaf College
At a glance
- Harder to get into: St Olaf (48.3% admitted vs 62.9%). Typical SAT 1390 vs 1370.
- Cheaper after aid: St Olaf. Average net price is $26,756 vs $66,585 at Pepperdine.
- Graduation: Pepperdine 81% vs St Olaf 85%.
- Earnings 10 years out: Pepperdine $71,700 vs St Olaf $53,700 (median).
Acceptance rate
St Olaf more selective
Pepperdine62.9%
St Olaf48.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
St Olaf higher
Pepperdine1290-1450
St Olaf1300-1470
Average net price
St Olaf $39,829 less
Pepperdine$66,585
St Olaf$26,756
In-state tuition
St Olaf $10,158 less
Pepperdine$69,918
St Olaf$59,760
Out-of-state tuition
St Olaf $10,158 less
Pepperdine$69,918
St Olaf$59,760
Graduation rate
St Olaf +4 pts
Pepperdine81%
St Olaf85%
Median earnings (10 years)
Pepperdine +$18,000
Pepperdine$71,700
St Olaf$53,700
Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.
Admission calculator
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Admissions
- Admission chances
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Pepperdine My Chances
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St Olaf My Chances
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- Applied
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Pepperdine 11,526
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St Olaf 6,623
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- Admitted
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Pepperdine 7,245
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St Olaf 3,200
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- Acceptance rate
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Pepperdine 62.9%
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St Olaf 48.3%
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- Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
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Pepperdine 11.6%
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St Olaf 26.8%
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- Typical SAT score
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Pepperdine 1370
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St Olaf 1390
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- Typical ACT score
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Pepperdine 30
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St Olaf 30
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- Average high school GPA
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Pepperdine 3.74
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St Olaf 3.68
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- Typical high school grades
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Pepperdine A-
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St Olaf A-
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- Admissions standards
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Pepperdine Very High
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St Olaf Very High
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- Applicant competition
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Pepperdine Low
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St Olaf Low
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- SAT range
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Pepperdine 1290-1450
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St Olaf 1300-1470
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- ACT range
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Pepperdine 29-32
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St Olaf 28-32
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- Submit test scores
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Pepperdine Test optional
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St Olaf Test optional
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- Application deadline
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Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027
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St Olaf Jan 15, 2027
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Cost
- Tuition (in state)
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Pepperdine $69,918
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St Olaf $59,760
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- Tuition (out of state)
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Pepperdine $69,918
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St Olaf $59,760
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- Room & board
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Pepperdine $21,750
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St Olaf $13,630
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- Average net price
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Pepperdine $66,585
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St Olaf $26,756
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- Average grant aid
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Pepperdine $26,927
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St Olaf $45,098
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- % receiving grant aid
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Pepperdine 91%
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St Olaf 100%
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Outcomes
- Graduation rate
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Pepperdine 81%
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St Olaf 85%
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- Median earnings (after 10 years)
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Pepperdine $71,700
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St Olaf $53,700
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- Making student loan payments
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Pepperdine 75%
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St Olaf 91%
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- Median student loan debt
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Pepperdine $26,000
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St Olaf $27,000
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- Median loan payment
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Pepperdine $268
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St Olaf $279
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Academics
- Student to faculty ratio
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Pepperdine 12:1
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St Olaf 11:1
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- Popular majors
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Pepperdine
- Business (27%)
- Communication (22%)
- Social Sciences (10%)
- General Studies (8%)
- Psychology (5%)
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St Olaf
- Social Sciences (16%)
- Biology (12%)
- Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
- Physical Sciences (8%)
- Mathematics (8%)
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School basics
- School
- Pepperdine Pepperdine University
- St Olaf St Olaf College
- Location
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Pepperdine Malibu, CA
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St Olaf Northfield, MN
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- Setting
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Pepperdine Rural Fringe
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St Olaf Distant Town
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- Total enrollment
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Pepperdine 8,976
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St Olaf 3,124
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- Type
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Pepperdine Private 4 Year
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St Olaf Private 4 Year
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- National ranking
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Pepperdine #162
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St Olaf #143
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Comparable Facts
Compare Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.
Pepperdine University is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (8,976 students vs. 3,124 students).
Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio
- Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA (Rural Fringe setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
- Pepperdine University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: Pepperdine University 12:1; St Olaf College 11:1.
Cost details
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 37.3% lower than at Pepperdine University ($13,630 vs. $21,750).
- Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at Pepperdine than at St Olaf College (about $10,158 more per year; $69,918 vs. $59,760).
- A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Pepperdine University (100% vs. 91%).
- The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 67.5% larger than aid received by Pepperdine University students ($45,098 vs. $26,927).
Admissions details
- Incoming Pepperdine students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 30) as students at St Olaf (30).
- SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Pepperdine and St Olaf.
- Typical fall application deadline: Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
- Enrolled first-year students at Pepperdine average a 3.74 high school GPA, 0.06 higher than at St Olaf (3.68).
- The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.6% at Pepperdine vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.
Loans and repayment
- Among federal student loan borrowers, Pepperdine University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
- Among borrowers, Pepperdine graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($268 vs. $279).
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 75%).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.
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