Pepperdine University
Former names | George Pepperdine College (1937–1971) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Freely ye received, freely give |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | 1937 |
Religious affiliation | Church of Christ |
| Endowment | $1.21 billion (2022) |
| President | Jim Gash |
Academic staff | 421 full-time (2022), 561 part-time (2022) |
| Students | 10,030 (fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 3,662 (fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 6,368 (fall 2022) |
| Location | , , United States 34°02′19.26″N 118°42′27.29″W / 34.0386833°N 118.7075806°W |
| Campus | Suburban 830 acres (340 ha) |
| Newspaper | Pepperdine Graphic |
| Colors | Blue and orange |
| Nickname | Waves |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I – WCC |
| Mascot | Willie the Wave |
| Website | pepperdine |
Pepperdine University (/ˈpɛpərdaɪn/) is a private Christian research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, California. Founded by entrepreneur George Pepperdine in South Los Angeles in 1937, the school expanded to Malibu in 1972. Courses are now taught at the main Malibu campus, as well as the graduate campuses in the USA, Latin America, and Europe.
The university is composed of an undergraduate liberal arts school (Seaver College) and four graduate schools: the Caruso School of Law, the Graziadio Business School, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and the School of Public Policy.
In 2025, Pepperdine University earned the Research 2 (R2): High Research Activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, signifying a significant expansion in the university's research output and funding. The designation recognizes institutions that demonstrate high levels of research activity, including an annual research and development expenditure exceeding $5 million and the awarding of at least 20 research doctorates per year.