Loyola Marymount University is a well-ranked private university in Los Angeles, California, USA. It's a mid-size university with 6,000 or so undergraduate students. Admissions are quite competitive, with an admission ratio of close to 40%. Popular majors are in Business, Communications, Social Sciences, Film and Television, and Liberal Arts. The six-year graduation rate is close to 78%, while Loyola Marymount graduates themselves have a median starting salary of close to INR 7,50,000 (around $9,200 median income a decade after graduation).
Pepperdine University is a well-established private university in Malibu, California, USA. It's a mid-size college with 3,500 undergraduate students. It's very competitive in admissions, and the acceptance ratio is close to 50%. Its popular majors are in the field of Business, Psychology, Communication, International Studies, and Law. Its six-year graduation rate stands close to 80%, and Pepperdine's graduates have a median starting salary of close to INR 8,00,000 (of close to $9,800 median income in an era spanning close to a decade after graduation).
| Loyola Marymount University | Pepperdine University | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 1501 Times Higher Education 2025 # 93 US News 2024 # 124 Forbes 2019 | # 1165 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 76 US News 2024 # 928 Center for World University Rankings 2022 |
| Subject Strength | # 71 for Law by US News 2025 | # 55 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -35 PG Programs -10 | UG Programs -38 PG Programs -16 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 40.0 % | 50.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1180 TOEFL-79 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1200 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 53067 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 33552 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 30832 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 53680 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 50940 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32240 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | .The average salary of the graduates is in the range of $60k-$70k. Around 74% of the graduates find employment after graduation. | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Bachelor of Science: $130,000 MBA: $90,000 Bachelor of Arts: $78,000 Doctorate: $50,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | Duolingo - 130/160IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 130/160GMAT - 500/800IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 54/90TOEFL - 78/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -42857 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -54630 |
| application dates | Jan 10, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall 2024 Intake Round 1) Mar 10, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall 2024 Intake Round 2) May 15, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall 2024 Intake Round 3 ) Nov 18, 2024 (Application Deadline For Spring 2025 Intake) | Jan 31, 2024 (Priority Application Deadline For Fall Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Loyola Marymount University | Pepperdine University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1911 | 1937 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12.5:1 |
| Male:Female | 44% Male, 56% Female | 40% Male, 59% Female |
| Location Facts | LMU is located on the Del Rey Hills in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles. | Pepperdine's Malibu campus is situated on 830 acres of the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway.The Graziadio Business School and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology are headquartered in West Los Angeles at the Howard Hughes Center next to Interstate 405. These two schools also offer programs at campuses in Malibu, Irvine, and Calabasas. |
| Library | Library has 593,815 books, 6,359 periodicals, 28,958 DVDs, 5,606 manuscripts, 1,042308 postcards etc. | Pepperdine has multiple libraries and resources available for the students. With three libraries located on the main campus and one located at each of the four extension campuses, Pepperdine offers sanctuaries for study, learning, and research. |
| Campus Life | The LMU campuses provide a backdrop to each student's unique university experience. They provide an environment in which students focus deeply on academics, while also embracing life outside the classroom — from arts to athletics, spirituality to service. LMU provides diverse experiences that educate the whole person in mind, body and spirit. Traditional residence halls, suites, apartments and houses are home to more 3,200 students who live on campus. The university facilities provide everything you need to live comfortably and excel academically. A variety of dining options, coffee shops, and convenience stores are available to suit your tastes and fit your schedule. A wide range of on-campus services and programs are available to ensure that our students stay healthy physically, emotionally and mentally. LMU CARES (LMU's Campus Awareness Resource Education Services) provides education about resources, support and policies regarding sexual and interpersonal misconduct and prevention. Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) are the hub of student involvement, leadership and excellence at Loyola Marymount University. RSOs — such as clubs, sorority and fraternity chapters, honor societies, service groups, sports teams and more — offer opportunities for all students at LMU to get involved, contribute, lead and make lasting friendships along the way. | Pepperdine University is an environment that is as conducive to personal connection as it is to higher learning. The university's diverse community of undergraduate and graduate students make the most of the Pepperdine experience by participating in student organizations, volunteer initiatives, spiritual opportunities, and campus activities unique to each of its five schools. University's student life and support resources provide rich opportunities for personal growth and cultural development. Pepperdine University Department of Campus Recreation is a unit of the Division of Student Affairs of Seaver College. The department's programs and services include: Club Sports, Esports, Fitness and Wellbeing, Informal Recreation, Intramural Sports, Outdoor Recreation, and Special Events and Excursions. The diversity and variety of sport and fitness activities and recreational facilities available assure opportunities for individuals to participate, whatever their level of ability and experience. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $13255 #Off campus (not with family) - $13293 #Off campus (with family) - $4284 | #On campus - $14870 #Off campus (not with family) - $14870 #Off campus (with family) - $2500 |
| Famous Alumni | Colin Hanks (actor) Linda Cardellini (actor) Holly Madison (TV personality) Billy Bean (professional baseball player) Francis Lawrence (Flimmaker and producer) | Mike Aamodt – Industrial and organizational psychology researcher Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of Theranos |
| City Life | Although the City of Angels is characterized as both a glamorous show business town and a traffic-gnarled metropolis, the truth about America's second-largest metropolitan area is that it's simultaneously both and neither. "Los Angeles is the place where dreams come true." This intoxicating mix of free-spirited hope and relentless ambition is the defining characteristic of LA residents, who call themselves Angelenos. Diversity is what defines Los Angeles without giving it a singular identity, especially when it comes to its reputation as an entertainment capital. Bands play live music in intimate venues, loud nightclubs and on grand stages. The number of cultural institutions and cinemas give residents an unparalleled cornucopia of entertainment, arts and culture of all brows. The high number of new residents arriving annually, combined with a lack of affordable housing, has contributed to a housing crisis in Los Angeles, and the cost of living is high here. | Malibu is known around the world for its epic coastal hills that slope dramatically into soft-sanded beaches lining the Pacific, as well as its Mediterranean climate and famous residents that include the likes of Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio and Pierce Brosnan. While other luxury seaside communities have grand homes by picturesque beaches, nothing quite compares the relationship Malibu has with its landscape—to be a resident of Malibu means not just living by the sea but living with the sea. This not only means an abundance of opportunities for surfing, hiking or boating but also a serenity that is usually found deep in nature. With a stretch of coast that runs for 27 miles and a population of approximately 16,000, Malibu provides ample space to feel a sense of seclusion without having to be isolated—the city is home to renowned bars and restaurants and Los Angeles is less than 25 miles away. |
| Weather |
Loyola Marymount University vs Pepperdine University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Pepperdine University and Loyola Marymount University are well-respected private universities located in Southern California, recognized for their emphasis on strong liberal arts education, social responsibility, and gorgeous campus settings. Neither Pepperdine nor Loyola Marymount, however, is listed in the QS World University Rankings for 2026, which indicates their local over global ranking priority.
Loyola Marymount is ranked at 91st in the US News Global University Rankings 2026, while Pepperdine is not ranked. Based on Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, Loyola Marymount is ranked in the 1501 band, while Pepperdine is unranked. Both institutions are strong in areas like Business, Communications, Film, Law, and Social Sciences but do not stand out in global subject rankings.
General Information
Loyola Marymount University (LMU), founded in 1911 in Los Angeles, values a liberal arts education with a Jesuit background, focusing on service, values, and holistic student development. Pepperdine University, founded in 1937 in Malibu, is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and is particularly noted for a beautiful campus location and a focus on blending academic excellence with Christian values.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both schools are mid-selective. Pepperdine University's acceptance rate is 50%, and therefore slightly less selective than Loyola Marymount University's 40% acceptance rate. Both schools assess applicants through academic performance, personal essays, extracurricular activity, and a university values fit, though Pepperdine's admissions are slightly more open on the whole.
Research Impact & Facilities
Neither Pepperdine nor Loyola Marymount is categorized as among top-tier research-intensive institutions such as R1 or R2 universities. Both are more geared towards undergraduate studies, teaching, and professional training. Their impact on research is localized, often centered on applied research in social science, business, communications, and arts. Both provide state-of-the-art campus facilities, media production studios, business centers, and engaged community programs, supporting student research through largely smaller-scale ventures.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both Pepperdine and LMU are private universities with comparably steep tuition fees, characteristic of US private colleges. Loyola Marymount's fees are around USD 53,000–58,000 annually, and Pepperdine's fees are in the same magnitude. Both universities provide different merit-based and need-based scholarships including scholarships exclusively for international students and those focusing on service careers. Their scholarships aim to draw students who are compatible with their mission-driven educational approaches.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine graduates perform well in Business, Law, Communications, and the Arts. LMU takes advantage of its excellent location in Los Angeles, especially for business, entertainment, and media careers. Pepperdine, which focuses on ethical leadership and values-centered education, graduates who are often motivated towards law, business, and public service careers. Both have active alumni networks and career assistance programs, though neither possess the international corporate clout of Ivy League institutions. LMU graduates frequently capitalize on local industry connections, and Pepperdine cultivates leadership positions in non-profits and private institutions.
