Financial Assistance FAQ

Financial Assistance Notification Information

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

All financial assistance will be released by January 20 for Early Action/ Early Decision students and April 1 for Regular Decision students. You can view your aid offer in your Pepperdine Application Portal.

Can I appeal for more scholarships?

The deadline to submit the Additional Scholarship Application has passed. If you submitted an application, all decisions will be made prior to May 1 and students will be notified at that time. Please continue to apply for outside scholarships.

Can I request more need-based financial aid?

If there has been a significant change in income during the 2025 calendar year, a Professional Judgement (PJ) Request may be submitted to evaluate you for additional federal aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant. Please note that requests are subject to approval and will not result in additional institutional funds. To be eligible to submit a PJ, the student must have an official FAFSA on file for the 2026-27 aid year, not currently be at the maximum federal aid amounts, and provide supporting documentation such as employer termination notice, parent tax returns/W-2s, etc.

How are merit scholarships awarded?

Merit scholarships are based on academics (GPA and SAT/ACT/CLT scores, if submitted), extracurricular involvement, and strength as an applicant to the University as demonstrated through the application and other required materials.

Why didn't I receive a Regents Scholars Program Scholarship? I have a 4.0!

Pepperdine University's Regents Scholars Program is incredibly competitive. Only the top 8%-10% of the admitted first-year class are selected to receive this award. Students are evaluated on their academic merit, as defined by their unweighted recalculated GPA and SAT/ACT/CLT scores. As admission to Pepperdine is already highly selective, scholarship recipients are exemplary students and have earned the highest combination of GPA and test scores in the incoming class. There is not an appeals process for these scholarships.

My financial aid package is not enough for me to commit to attending, how do I make Pepperdine possible?

Parents and students are expected to contribute to the investment in making Pepperdine possible. This includes borrowing loans, applying for outside scholarships, and fellowships to bridge the gap between institutional aid and the Cost of Attendance. Pepperdine students received approximately $1.2 million in outside scholarships last year to assist with filling the gap between federal, state, institutional aid, and the Cost of Attendance. Therefore, it is encouraged that students apply for outside scholarships and research sponsorships in your area, as many businesses and non-profit organizations award scholarships to students for various accomplishments.

Please note that outside scholarships must be coordinated with all institutional, federal, and state aid and may result in a reduction of your institutional grants/scholarships and/or federal aid.

How do I apply for a Cal Grant?

Fill out the 2026-27 FAFSA/CADAA
State priority deadline: March 2, 2026
Check your email for a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) or CADAA Submission Summary
Confirm your GPA Submission on your WebGrants for Students https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/ (first-time filers only)
Create a WebGrants for Students Account after you submit FAFSA or CADAA

Learn more about the Cal Grant here.

What is the maximum Cal Grant Award?

The Cal Grant is a tuition need-based grant for California residents. Cal Grant A for Private non-profit schools’ amount is $9,358, Cal Grant B is $1,648 for the first year, and in subsequent years the access award of $1,648 plus a tuition and fee award equal to Cal Grant A for a total of $11,006.

Will my need-based institutional aid change if I am awarded a Cal Grant?

In order to keep you within your federal need and/or the cost of tuition, your institutional aid may be adjusted with the addition of the Cal Grant.

Is my financial assistance notification final after I submit my Admission Response Form and Tuition Prepayment of $750?

No. Need-based financial assistance is subject to change until Verification is complete.

What is Verification?

Verification is a quality control method used by the U.S. Department of Education to verify the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA. The student and/or parent is required to submit all requested documentation as listed in the "To Do List" in order to complete the financial assistance process. The verification documents will be listed in the student's WaveNet account in May. Documents must be submitted, reviewed, and processed before financial assistance is considered verified. After Verification is complete, the aid will be finalized (following the adjustment of any indicated aid changes, if any, from differences in projected vs. actual FAFSA figures).

If I am receiving ROTC or VA education benefits, can I also receive institutional aid from Pepperdine?

If you are receiving tuition-based ROTC or VA education benefits, your institutional aid may be adjusted to keep you within the cost of tuition.

Why didn’t I receive a Federal Work Study offer?

Students MUST file the FAFSA and have demonstrated need as established by the Department of Education to qualify for Federal Work Study. Federal Work Study funds are limited and not all students will qualify.

Are there any jobs on campus that do not require Federal Work Study?

There are some jobs available which do not require a work study offer. Interested students should visit the Student Employment website for more information.

Are work-study earnings taxable?

The money you earn from Federal Work-Study is generally subject to federal and state income tax, but exempt from FICA taxes (provided you are enrolled full-time and work less than half-time). Report earnings based on the calendar year, not the school year.

My financial assistance notification only included loans, but other schools offered me a large grant. Why did I not receive institutional funds?

Unfortunately, budget limitations will not allow us to offer institutional aid to all students or match aid from other colleges.

What kinds of things are taken into consideration when deciding how much financial assistance a student will receive?

Financial assistance is based on several factors which include, but are not limited to: test scores, course rigor, GPA, extracurricular involvement, leadership, special talents, Church of Christ affiliation, need as calculated by the FAFSA, annual budget, and the cost of attendance.

Is my financial assistance package good for all four years or could it change?

The University offers renewable institutional assistance for 8 regular semesters of aid, as long as a student continues to qualify and meets the financial assistance Terms and Conditions located on our website. Federal, state, private grants and scholarships are reviewed annually for qualification, contingent upon your completion of the FAFSA and submission of any required documentation. Departmental/Athletic awards are entirely under the jurisdiction of the department.

Will financial assistance apply if I study abroad?

Yes, financial assistance is available (as long as you still meet all the requirements to qualify). Federal Direct Parent Plus loans and/or Private Loans may be increased to cover the additional program fees up to the cost of attendance. Students with departmental scholarships will need to verify with their departments to see whether or not departmental scholarships can be applied towards their study abroad program.

May I utilize my financial assistance to buy my books?

All students should come prepared with cash or a credit card to purchase their books, even if they have financial assistance to cover the cost.

How can I get information for current or former foster students and find out if I am eligible for participation?

Please follow this link to determine eligibility, documents required, and services for foster students that qualify.

Cost of Attendance Information

What is the Cost of Attendance?

The total cost of attendance for the 2026-27 academic year is $99,260, which includes tuition, fees, food, housing, books, personal expenses, and transportation. Direct costs will be charged to your student account (tuition, fees, food and housing). Indirect costs (books, supplies, transportation and personal) are estimated expenses and are not to be charged to a student's account. You can view the cost of attendance breakdown here.

If I am an out of state student, is tuition the same?

Yes, tuition is the same for both in and out of state students.

How can I estimate what the annual tuition increase will be each year during my time at Pepperdine?

The cost of tuition usually increases each year by approximately 3-6%.

When and how will I be able to submit payment for the fall term?

Charges will post to student accounts in the beginning of August. Financial assistance is scheduled to disburse on August 14 and payment is due August 31. There are three payment options — single, two or three payment plans. More information about how to select payment plans can be found here. Accepted forms of payment for Cost of Attendance are listed below.

Cash (No credit cards)
Check (US Bank/US dollars), e-Check
Wire Transfer

For more information regarding tuition payments, please contact Student Accounts.

FAFSA Information

When is the priority deadline to submit the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is required to apply for need-based financial assistance. The priority deadlines are November 1 for Early Action/ Early Decision and February 15 for Regular Decision. If you missed the priority deadline, we still encourage all eligible students to submit a FAFSA as soon as possible, as need-based financial assistance may still be available. You may qualify for institutional merit aid, federal aid, state aid, and/or outside scholarships. Please visit the financial assistance website for instructions.

I will not qualify for need-based aid. Should I still submit a FAFSA?

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, we encourage you to submit the FAFSA. Financial assistance consists of both need-based and non-need-based aid for those that qualify. Federal non-need-based aid includes the Federal Teach Grant and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for students and Federal Direct PLUS Loans for parents.

I completed the FAFSA by the priority deadline and submitted my social security number (SSN) on the application. Why did I not receive a financial assistance award?

Confirm that your FAFSA is not in a rejected status, that your Social Security Number, date of birth, and name as it appears on your social security card are correct on both your Pepperdine application and your FAFSA, and that our school code (001264) is included.

What is the difference between Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent)?

Federal Direct Subsidized loans are offered to students on the basis of financial need as determined by federal criteria. The federal government pays the borrower's accrued interest during certain periods, such as when the student is enrolled in school at least half-time, thereby "subsidizing" these loans.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans are not need-based; the borrower is responsible for accrued interest throughout the life of the loan.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduates (subject to credit approval), and are always unsubsidized. The borrower is responsible for accrued interest throughout the life of the loan.

Private alternative loans are non-federal educational loans available from a variety of national lending institutions. Private alternative loans can be borrowed in place of federal loans* however students are encouraged to first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and exhaust all eligibility for federal funds before applying for alternative loans.

What types of scholarships does Pepperdine offer?

Please click here for information.

What departments offer scholarships, and when can I apply for these scholarships?

Scholarships may be available from select departments. Please click here for information about "Special Achievement Scholarships".

How does Federal Work Study (FWS) or Pepperdine Work Program (PWP) apply to my student account?

Work study funds are not disbursed to the students account. Students are issued a paycheck every two weeks for the hours worked. You may visit the Student Employment website for details on securing a job.

If I cannot log into WaveNet, whom should I contact?

Make sure you read and follow login instructions. Contact the Pepperdine IT Service Desk at (310) 506-HELP or (866) 767-8623 if you are having problems logging into your WaveNet account.

What is Guest Access?

Guest Access is authorization from the student allowing certain individuals access to their student records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Therefore, we are not permitted to discuss or provide student record information without this authorization, regardless of a student's dependency status. For parents or any other individual to have access to the student's records, the student must give them "Guest Access" on their WaveNet. It takes about 2 minutes to complete. Only after a student has completed both the enrollment form and tuition prepayment will the student be able to grant guest access in WaveNet. The student must click on "Manage Guest Access" in their WaveNet and enter the email of the person to whom they are granting access. Then that person will open the email, click the link, and answer a security question. That is all there is to it – they will have access to any area which the student has specified (which could include access to account detail, financial aid, grades, schedule, making payments and receiving billing reminders).

My child is not even a legal adult. I pay the bill! What do you mean you can't give me access to the account without Guest Access?

Unfortunately, we are not at liberty to make exceptions to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This federal guideline is designed to protect the students and families who might be involved in scenarios such as restraining orders, litigation, abusive relationships, etc. We have no way of knowing if the adult calling is really a parent, or even if they have the legal right to the student's information. Although we recognize that this is a frustration, it is worth it for the safety of our students.

Loan, Scholarship, and Grant Information

What is the difference between Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent)?

Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans are not need-based; the borrower is responsible for accrued interest throughout the life of the loan.

What types of scholarships does Pepperdine offer?

Please click here for information.

What departments offer scholarships, and when can I apply for these scholarships?

Scholarships may be available from select departments. Please click here for information about "Special Achievement Scholarships".

How does Federal Work Study (FWS) or Pepperdine Work Program (PWP) apply to my student account?

WaveNet Information

If I cannot log into WaveNet, whom should I contact?

Make sure you read and follow login instructions. Contact the Pepperdine IT Service Desk at (310) 506-HELP or (866) 767-8623 if you are having problems logging into your WaveNet account.

What is Guest Access?

My child is not even a legal adult. I pay the bill! What do you mean you can't give me access to the account without Guest Access?

Financial Assistance Contact Information

How do I contact the Office of Financial Assistance?

You may reach us by calling (310)506-4301 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday or by the way of email: finaid2@pepperdine.edu

Walk-ins and appointments with financial assistance advisors are offered Monday through Friday between 10am-11:30am and 1:30pm and 3:30pm.

Scholarship Terms and Conditions

2026-27 Merit Scholarships

Scholarship	Amount	Class Standing	Renewability	Terms and Conditions
George Pepperdine Achievement Award	$16,000 - $35,000 annually	First-year students	Up to 4 years	Must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and satisfactory academic progress.
George Pepperdine Achievement Award	$5,000 - $20,000 annually	Transfer students	Up to 4 years	Must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and satisfactory academic progress.
Regents Scholars	$40,000 - $45,000 annually	First-year students	Up to 4 years	Must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
Christian Leadership Award	$5,000 annually	First-year and transfer students	Up to 4 years	Must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and satisfactory academic progress.