Pepperdine vs. Villanova

Deciding between Pepperdine University and Villanova University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Pepperdine University
Villanova University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pepperdine Malibu, CA
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • Pepperdine Rural Fringe
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Pepperdine 8,976
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • Pepperdine Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pepperdine #162
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pepperdine Churches of Christ
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Pepperdine Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pepperdine
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • Pepperdine $21,750
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • Pepperdine $66,585
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pepperdine $26,927
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pepperdine 91%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pepperdine 11,526
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • Pepperdine 7,245
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pepperdine 62.9%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • Pepperdine 11.6%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pepperdine 1370
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pepperdine 30
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pepperdine 3.74
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pepperdine A-
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pepperdine Very High
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pepperdine Low
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • Pepperdine 29/32
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Pepperdine 1290/1450
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pepperdine Test optional
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pepperdine 12:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pepperdine
    • Business (27%)
    • Communication (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pepperdine 81%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pepperdine $71,700
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pepperdine 75%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pepperdine $26,000
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pepperdine $268
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pepperdine 33%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • Pepperdine 67%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pepperdine High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • Pepperdine No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • Pepperdine 47%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • Pepperdine 12%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • Pepperdine 6%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pepperdine 16%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pepperdine 5%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • Pepperdine 10%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pepperdine 4%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pepperdine 51%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pepperdine 38%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Pepperdine Yes
  • Villanova Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Pepperdine No
  • Villanova No
  • Meal Plan
  • Pepperdine Yes
  • Villanova Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Pepperdine Yes
  • Villanova Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Pepperdine No
  • Villanova No

Comparable Facts

Compare Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA with Villanova University in Villanova, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Villanova University is larger than Pepperdine based on total student enrollment (10,041 students vs. 8,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Pepperdine University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Pepperdine University 12:1; Villanova University 10:1.

Pepperdine vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pepperdine or Villanova? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Villanova University than Pepperdine ($37,201 vs. $66,585).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 18.6% lower than at Pepperdine University ($17,694 vs. $21,750).
  • Pepperdine University is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Villanova (about $2,142 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Pepperdine than at Villanova University (about $2,142 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pepperdine University than at Villanova University (91% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 76.8% larger than aid received by Pepperdine University students ($47,609 vs. $26,927).

Pepperdine vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pepperdine or Villanova? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Villanova and Pepperdine.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 80 points higher than at Pepperdine (1370).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Pepperdine).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pepperdine University 1290/1450; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pepperdine University 29/32; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pepperdine - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Pepperdine (3.74).
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (62.9%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.6% at Pepperdine vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Pepperdine vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pepperdine and Villanova? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Pepperdine University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than Pepperdine graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $71,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pepperdine University graduates have a $497 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, Pepperdine graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($268 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pepperdine students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.