Enrollment FAQ

We have compiled a list of common questions that we receive from admitted students and their parents regarding enrollment at Pepperdine University. If you need any additional information, please send us an email.

Admission/Enrollment

When will I receive my financial assistance and/or scholarship information?

Early Action and Early Decision admitted students will receive a preliminary financial assistance notification by January 20. Regular Decision admitted students will be notified of scholarships and financial assistance by April 1.

Can I defer my admission to a future term?

Offers of admission are term-specific and cannot be applied for a future term. Pepperdine University does not have a policy allowing students to defer the term of their enrollment. If you would like to be considered for a future term, please review the reapplication process. Please note that reapplying does not guarantee admission or scholarships for a future term.

Can I get an extension on the enrollment deadline?

Both the admission response form and $750 tuition prepayment must be submitted by 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) on February 1, 2026 for Early Decision and May 1, 2026 for Early Action/Regular Decision to secure a place in the class. Please follow the enrollment confirmation steps. If you feel you have a unique circumstance that merits an additional extension, please contact admission@pepperdine.edu, and the Director of Admission will review your request.

If I have been admitted for Early Decision, am I required to enroll at Pepperdine?

Yes, Early Decision admission offers are binding. Admitted students who don't enroll by the February 1 deadline will lose their exclusive $2,000 annual scholarship for Early Decision.

What is the priority enrollment deadline for Early Action?

The priority enrollment deadline is March 1. The final enrollment deadline is May 1 to secure your place in the fall class.

What is the priority enrollment deadline for Regular Decision?

Regular Decision students who enroll by the April 13 priority deadline will be entered into a raffle for $500 Pepperdine Bookstore gift cards and receive priority class registration for the fall. Enroll early to gain these exclusive perks!

Academics/Classes

When do I register for classes? Will I have an advisor help me plan my schedule?

Class registration will take place in July for students who have completed the required items on the New Student Checklist. Academic Advisors will be available to assist in planning your class schedule.

What if I want to change my major or declare a major?

You can change your major by emailing admission@pepperdine.edu before enrolling. After enrolling, you can contact Academic Advising or meet with them during New Student Orientation.

You can view the list of majors and minors available at Seaver College here.

Exceptions: Since the nursing program in the College of Health Science requires a separate application, we are unable to accommodate requests to change your major to nursing. If you would like to change to an Art, Music, Theatre Arts, or Theatre and Screen Arts major, you must first obtain permission from the Fine Arts Recruitment Office.

How do I know if the college courses I have completed will transfer to Pepperdine?

Students who have completed college work prior to attending Pepperdine will receive a Transfer Credit Summary before the enrollment deadline, provided official college transcripts were submitted to the Office of Admission. The DAR will detail the number of transfer credits awarded, as well as any Pepperdine general education course requirements that may have been fulfilled.

Conditions of Admission

Is my offer of admission final once I submit my enrollment deposit?

No. Your offer remains conditional until we receive and verify your official final high school transcripts, graduation status, and any official test scores (SAT, ACT, CLT, AP, IB, etc.). The university reserves the right to review, place a hold on, or rescind an offer of admission at any time up until the first day of university classes.

What are the most common reasons an undergraduate offer is rescinded?

While the vast majority of our admitted students transition smoothly, the rare instances of rescission are typically driven by five factors:

Severe Academic Decline: A significant downward trend in your final semester or senior year grades.
Failure to Graduate: Failing to successfully complete your high school graduation requirements or earn your diploma.
Violating an Early Decision (ED) Agreement: Accepting an admission offer here while simultaneously remaining bound to or placing a deposit at another institution under a restrictive early application agreement.
Disciplinary Infractions or Behavioral Misconduct: Incidents resulting in high school suspension or expulsion, criminal arrests, or engaging in hate speech, harassment, or unlawful behavior on social media.
Overuse of Artificial Intelligence: If the admission committee determines there is an overuse of AI in a student’s application or materials.
Multiple deposits: Per your Common App agreement, you may only place one enrollment deposit (or equivalent) or risk the withdrawal of your admission offer.

I got a "C" (or a "D") in a class this semester. Is my admission going to be canceled?

A single minor dip in performance—such as a historically straight-A student receiving one B or C—will generally not put your admission at risk. However, receiving multiple C grades, any D or F grades, or seeing your overall GPA plunge significantly below the average you maintained when admitted will trigger an immediate review.

Can I drop a class or change my senior year schedule now that I am accepted?

We admitted you based on the specific curriculum you declared. If you switch out of an advanced or core academic course into a lighter elective, it can alter your eligibility. If you must drop or change a class due to scheduling conflicts or hardships, you must submit a formal schedule change request to the Undergraduate Admission office immediately for evaluation by emailing your admission counselor.

What should I do if my senior year grades dropped due to circumstances beyond my control?

Be proactive. If you experienced a severe medical emergency, family crisis, or sudden hardship that directly impacted your academic performance, do not wait for us to discover it on your final transcript in June. Contact your admission counselor and have your high school guidance counselor submit an official statement. Providing context allows us to view your situation holistically; remaining silent leaves the university to assume a lack of effort.

What happens if an issue is identified on my final transcripts?

The university does not rescind offers arbitrarily. If your final transcript triggers an academic flag, our office will reach out to you directly. You will be given a strict window to submit a formal, written explanation detailing the context of your performance and your plan for academic success at the university level. The admission committee will review your statement before making a final determination.

Next Steps

What is New Student Orientation (NSO)? When is NSO?

New Student Orientation (NSO) is meant to introduce the student and families to Seaver College. For all students, NSO will begin on Tuesday, August 18 and run through Friday, August 21, 2026.

International student move-in and check-in is Monday, August 17, 2026.

Domestic student move-in and check-in is Tuesday, August 18. Your specific check-in date and time will be emailed to you.

Please visit the NSO webpage for more information.

When do I register for housing? How do I find a roommate?

You will receive detailed information about housing once you enroll. The Pepperdine Housing Portal is available to assist students in selecting a roommate(s) online, if they choose to do so. If a student chooses not to utilize this service, they will be assigned a roommate. You can find more information on the Housing and Residence Life website.

What day do Fall 2026 classes start?

The fall semester will begin on August 24, 2026. For further information on dates, please see the Seaver College Academic Calendar.

Are there ways that I can connect with Admission & Aid representatives virtually?

Yes, there are a variety of ways in which you can connect virtually with an Admission Counselor or a Financial Assistance Advisor. Please see options below.

Email your Admission Counselor to schedule a one-on-one phone or video appointment with an Admission Counselor between the hours of 8:00am-5:00pm (PST) Monday-Friday.
Email finaid2@pepperdine.edu with the subject line "New Admit Appointment" to schedule a phone appointment with a Financial Assistance Advisor between the hours of 10:00am-3:00pm (PST) Monday-Friday.
Join a virtual tour of our Malibu campus where our students guide you through main campus, highlighting key locations and sharing their personal insight along the way.
Connect with other admitted students on Pepperdine's ZeeMee admitted student channel.

Do you have more questions?

Please send the Admission Office an email. We will research your question or point you in the direction of an office on campus that can help you.