The college decision-making process is extremely stressful and difficult for many, and it can be even more frustrating when the school you choose does not end up meeting your expectations.
This is not uncommon: about a third of college students transfer schools at some point before completing their degrees.
Reasons include: they think they would be happier at a different school, they want to pursue a degree program not offered by their current school, or they want to find a new environment that suits them.
If you are a student currently in this position, then you are mostly likely in search of a great new school to attend.
Of the many great colleges in the country, one amazing university you would be wise to consider transferring to is Pepperdine University.
Established in 1937, Pepperdine University is a private college located in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu, CA.
The school’s campus is suburban and spans a vast 830 acres, sitting along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to its downright idyllic coastal location, Pepperdine is also known for its strong commitment to upholding the Christian values of the Churches of Christ, as well as practicing associated religious traditions.
Pepperdine is made up of five constituent schools.
These include the Caruso School of Law, the School of Public Policy, Graziadio Business School, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and the Seaver College.
There are numerous different program options across Pepperdine’s five schools at the graduate and undergraduate levels, but the primary undergraduate school is Seaver College.
As of the fall of 2021, the university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,708 students.
Read on to learn more about transferring to Pepperdine University.
Pepperdine University Transfer Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate for those who apply to Pepperdine University as transfer students is 40%.
However, keep in mind any school’s transfer acceptance rate will differ year-to-year.
Tthere are so many different factors that can cause a college’s acceptance rates to fluctuate significantly, such as the number of transfer applications the school receives that year, how many seats are available in each program/class, and so on.
Enrollment rates — or the percent of students who are accepted to Pepperdine versus how many actually end up enrolling at the school that year — are another factor, since many colleges are willing to admit a greater number of transfer students to make up for smaller class sizes when first-year enrollment rates are down.
Still, it can be said that Pepperdine is moderately selective compared to other schools.
The average college/university in the United States accepts over 60% of transfer applicants; the average private institution admits one transfer student for every 18 first-years.
Application Requirements & GPA for Pepperdine Transfer Students
The first step to applying to Pepperdine University as a transfer student is to ensure that you are eligible.
Pepperdine considers any student who has completed high school and any number of college credits a transfer student. There is no minimum number of college credits required for transfer admission.
To begin the transfer application, students must visit the transfer application portal on the college’s website and set up their account.
The transfer application consists of a series of questions about the applicant’s personal background, academic experiences, and their goals for transferring to a new college.
In addition to the transfer application itself, students need to submit all other required materials before the application deadline.
Additional required supplemental materials include official proof of graduating from high school/GED program, as well as official transcripts from all previously attended colleges.
Transfer applicants must also submit one academic letter of recommendation written by a college advisor or professor.
The admissions process at Pepperdine is test-optional, meaning that the school does not require that transfer applicants submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application bundle.
On top of that, Pepperdine does not have a strict minimum GPA requirement for transfer applicants.
It should be noted, however, that the middle 50% of those who are accepted to Pepperdine as transfer students have an unweighted GPA between 3.73 and 3.97.
Pepperdine Transfer Deadline
The deadline for applying to Pepperdine University as a transfer student is February 15 of each year for those looking to enroll in the fall semester.
For students applying to transfer to the school starting in the spring semester, the application deadline is October 1 each year.
For those looking to start classes at Pepperdine during the spring, the transfer application deadline and the deadline for first-year applicants are the same.
Fall transfer applicants, on the other hand, actually have a month longer to submit the completed application bundle than first-years applying to begin in fall, who must submit the application no later than January 15.
Another important date for transfer applicants is the FAFSA deadline — you certainly do not want to miss your chance to receive financial aid, which may be crucial to many students’ ability to attend the school.
For fall semester transfer students, the FAFSA deadline is actually the same day the Pepperdine application is due, February 15.
On the other hand, spring semester transfer students have a two-week gap between the two deadlines. This prospective transfer group must complete the FAFSA by no later than October 15.
After completing the application — as well as paying the non-refundable $65 processing fee or submitting a fee waiver — applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email from the Office of Admissions within 24 hours.
What Is the Decision Date for Pepperdine Transfer Students?
Students who apply to transfer to Pepperdine University during the fall semester can expect to receive notification of their admission decision by the beginning of April each year.
For spring semester transfer applicants, admissions decisions will be released around the middle of November of each year.
Possible admissions decisions transfer applicants may receive on their respective decision dates include acceptance and rejection.
Those who learn that they were rejected on decision day may be disappointed, but on the bright side, attending Pepperdine is still a possibility for these students — just not immediately.
Students who are denied admission for the fall and spring semesters are eligible to reapply to Pepperdine the spring semester following their initial intended enrollment year.
Students who are accepted to transfer to Pepperdine during the fall semester must take the school’s offer for admission and enroll in courses no later than June 1.
For students who are accepted as spring semester transfers, the enrollment deadline is December 1 each year.
This means that Pepperdine applicants are given at least a few months between when they have to submit the application and the enrollment deadline — a solid chunk of time to consider whether or not they will ultimately attend Pepperdine.
Deciding Whether You Should Apply to Pepperdine As a Transfer Student
There are many different things that students considering transferring to a new college or university should take into account when deciding which school they want to apply to.
The application process — from ordering official transcripts to requesting a letter of recommendation, filling out forms, and all the many other tasks involved — can be both time-consuming and stressful for many students.
For this reason, before you get to working on your Pepperdine University transfer application, it is wise to carefully consider whether or not this school is a good fit for you.
Consider, for example, the fact that at Pepperdine, all students — regardless of program — are required to take a minimum of three courses in religion, as well as attend no less than 14 religious events during each semester at the school.
On the other hand, Pepperdine does also strive to make the campus atmosphere inclusive and uplifting for all students, and many — even those who are not Christian — can appreciate the strong sense of community and unity.
RECAP – How to Apply to Pepperdine As a Transfer Student
The first step to applying to Pepperdine University as a transfer student is to access the Pepperdine Transfer Application through the school’s website and begin filling out the application information.
In addition to general information regarding the student’s background, the application also includes two short-answer question prompts, one of which asks the student to describe their goals for transferring.
The other asks students to explain their interest in choosing Pepperdine, a Christian university, and how they would contribute to religious life on campus.
Students must submit the application and pay the $65 fee by the deadline, which is February 15 each year for fall semester applicants and October 1 annually for spring semester transfers.
The next step is to gather the other required application materials, all of which must also be submitted before the application deadline.
These are proof of graduating from high school or an equivalent program, official college transcripts from all previous schools, and one letter of recommendation.
The letter of recommendation must be written by a college faculty member or advisor.
Fall semester transfer applicants will also need to ensure that they complete their FAFSA before the application deadline.
Spring semester transfer applicants, on the other hand, have two weeks after application submission before the FAFSA is due on October 15.
Then, aside from submitting optional SAT or ACT scores, there is only one thing left to do: wait to hear back from Pepperdine’s Office of Admissions.
