Undergraduate Application Requirements Information

First-Year Applicants (High School Seniors)

This letter must be from a core subject (math, science, English, history, foreign language, religion) teacher or counselor who is familiar with the applicant's academic standing. 

Transfer Applicants

The recommendation must come from a college professor or advisor. If you have completed fewer than 30 college units at the time of application, your recommendation can also come from a high school core subject (math, science, English, history, foreign language, religion) teacher or counselor who is familiar with the applicant's academic standing.

Instructions for All Applicants

Option 1: Pepperdine Recommendation Form

After applying, you can use the form in your Pepperdine Application Portal to submit a request for your recommender to complete your recommendation. 

Option 2: Common Application Recommendation Form

Once in the Common Application, select "My Colleges" in the left-hand menu, and then "Assign Recommenders." Enter the required information for the form. Please note: you will need your recommender's name, position title, email address, and work phone number to complete the form. Your recommender will then be contacted and invited to submit your recommendation through the Common Application system. If your school official has already submitted your recommendation via the Common Application, please do not send additional copies as this will delay our ability to process your application file. Instead, please verify that these items were submitted on the School Forms tab in the Common Application system. Please see the video walkthrough for more information.

Please note: In order for Pepperdine to receive your recommendation, you must correctly assign your school official(s) to your Pepperdine application.

Option 3: Scoir

You can submit a request for your recommender to complete your recommendation through Scoir.

Please Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.

All Applicants

• College transcripts must cover all work attempted by the application deadline and should be sent directly from each institution attended. Applicants for Fall 2027 must include Fall 2026 final grades on their transcripts.
• Transcripts can either be submitted from the school through National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, or by mail to the Office of Admission at the address below. If the transcripts are mailed, they must be official with an original signature of the school official(s) or the school seal on the transcript and sent directly from the school or submitted in an envelope sealed by the school. We also accept transcripts to be sent from the school via SCOIR.
  
  • If you are sending your transcript via SCOIR, please request that your transcripts be sent to the undergraduate Pepperdine University account at admission-seaver@pepperdine.edu. 
    
  • If you are submitting via Parchment, please request that your transcript be sent to the undergraduate Pepperdine University Seaver Undergraduate account at admission@pepperdine.edu.
    
  • If you will submit via National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), please request that your transcripts be sent specifically to the Pepperdine University undergraduate admissions account within the NSC platform.
    
• Please note: Faxed or emailed copies of transcripts are NOT accepted. 
  • Please note: While faxed or emailed copies of transcripts are NOT accepted for first-year applicants, we will accept emailed final high school transcripts directly from the high school for transfer applicants. 
    
• If you have attended more than one college, you must submit an official transcript from every institution where you have completed coursework.

Official transcripts may be sent to the following address:

Seaver College Office of Admission
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90263-4392

International Students

• All college transcripts in a language other than English must also be official and must be accompanied by an official English translation.

• All documents regarding your previous education (marks, certificates, diplomas, etc.) and test scores must be sent to us DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL(S) YOU ATTENDED, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, OR THE TESTING AUTHORITY.

• The document we receive may be a photocopy, as long as it has been signed by a school, ministry, or testing authority official, and sent directly to us by the school, the Ministry of Education, or testing authority in a letterhead envelope.

• In other words, we must be able to determine that the document we receive (whether the original or a photocopy) has been verified by the issuing institution and that the student (or anyone else) has not had the opportunity to see or touch the document from the time of the verification until we open the document in our office.

Credential Evaluation Services (WES)

 Please Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.

All Applicants

• Official high school transcripts are required of all applicants, including transfer students and students who have not yet graduated at the time of application.
• Include your Common Application ID on all documents you submit. This will assist in the accurate and timely processing of your application file.
• Transcripts can either be submitted from the school through the Common Application Naviance system,  National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, or Scoir, or by mail to the Office of Admission at the address below. If the transcripts are mailed, they must be official with an original signature of the school official(s) or the school seal on the transcript and sent directly from the school or submitted in an envelope sealed by the school.
  • If you are sending your transcript via SCOIR, please request that your transcripts be sent to the undergraduate Pepperdine University account at admission-seaver@pepperdine.edu. 
  • If you are submitting via Parchment, please request that your transcript be sent to the undergraduate Pepperdine University Seaver Undergraduate account at admission@pepperdine.edu.
  • If you will submit via National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), please request that your transcripts be sent specifically to the Pepperdine University undergraduate admissions account within the NSC platform.
• Please note: Faxed or e-mailed copies of transcripts are NOT accepted.
• If your school official has already submitted your transcript via the Common Application, please do not send additional hard copies as this will delay our ability to process your application file. Instead, please verify that these items were submitted on the School Forms tab in the Common Application system.
• If you have attended more than one high school, you must submit an official transcript from each school if the grades from the earlier school(s) do not appear on your last high school transcript.
• Additional instructions based on applicant status are listed below. Please make sure to read and follow all applicable instructions.

Official transcripts may be sent to the following address:

Seaver College Office of Admission
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90263-4392

High School Seniors (First-Year Applicants)

• A cumulative sixth-semester transcript (through grade 11) must be submitted at the time of application.
• If accepted, the final transcript with graduation date listed must be submitted prior to enrollment.

Transfer Students and High School Graduates

• The official, cumulative high school transcript submitted must indicate the date of high school graduation.

International Students

• High school transcripts in a language other than English must also be official and must be accompanied by an official English translation.
• All documents regarding your previous education (marks, certificates, diplomas, etc.) and test scores (TOEFL, SAT) must be sent to us DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL(S) YOU ATTENDED, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, OR THE TESTING AUTHORITY.
• The document we receive may be a photocopy, as long as it has been signed by a school, ministry, or testing authority official, and sent directly to us by the school, the Ministry of Education, or testing authority in a letterhead envelope.
• In other words, we must be able to determine that the document we receive (whether the original or a photocopy) has been verified by the issuing institution and that the student (or anyone else) has not had the opportunity to see or touch the document from the time of the verification until we open the document in our office.

Credential Evaluation Services (WES)

Alternative Applicants

• In addition to the official high school transcript indicating any completed course work, applicants who did not graduate from high school must also submit official GED (General Educational Development) or CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Examination) documentation indicating a passing score.

Home-Schooled Applicants

• If any portion of the high school course work was completed at a traditional high school, an official transcript of that work must be submitted.
• If a transcript for work completed as a home-schooled applicant is not available, official GED or CHSPE documentation indicating a passing score must be submitted. Additionally, official documentation should be submitted indicating the curriculum followed and grades obtained.
• Please note: Due to the non-traditional nature of this type of schooling, applicants are expected to demonstrate academic proficiency through strong SAT I or ACT scores.

Please Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.

English proficiency may be demonstrated by one of the following:

• SAT I Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 600 and above
• ACT Reading score of 24 and above
• TOEFL iBT (or TOEFL iBT Home Edition) score of 85 - *Please note that Pepperdine does not accept TOEFL "MyBest Scores"
• C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency) of 186 and above
• Duolingo English Test score of 120 and above
• IELTS (or IELTS Indicator) overall score of 6.5 and above
• A "B" or better in a transferable English Composition course (not ESL) at an accredited US college or university
• A "C" or better on the UK system AS or A-Level English Exams (not ESL), or Hong Kong system HKALE English Exam
• The ELS Language Centers' Master level 112 class with a grade of B or higher
• IB 1 English grade result of 5 or better (not ESL)
• 4 years of study at a high school in which English is the medium of instruction - subject to verification by an Admission Counselor

NOTE: All test scores must be taken within 2 years of time of application.

If you have used a different name (e.g. nickname, middle name, etc.) when taking any tests, you will need to notify our office by sending an email to admission-oiss@pepperdine.edu.

Please Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.

SAT I, ACT, or CLT

Pepperdine is test optional. Although we do not require test scores, you have the option to submit official test scores through the testing agency, self-reported test scores on your application, or self-reported test scores through your Pepperdine Application Portal. If test scores are self-reported at the time of application, official test scores will be required upon enrollment at Pepperdine. Please note that self-reported test scores will not be accepted through transcripts or email. 

 

Fall applicants must take the SAT I,  ACT, or CLT by October in order to meet the November 1 application deadline or by December in order to meet the January 15 application deadline. The SAT II Subject Tests are also not required.

Note that if you have used a a different name (e.g. nickname, middle name, etc.) when taking the SAT/ACT/CLT, you will need to notify our office by sending an email to admission-seaver@pepperdine.edu.

Seaver College of Pepperdine University Codes

• SAT 1: 4630
• ACT: 0373

• Students can send scores through their CLT portal by selecting Pepperdine University from the Partner Colleges & Universities menu. View this tutorial for sharing your CLT scores.

If you choose to send an official score report, you may contact the centers below to have your scores sent:

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) – (866) 756-7346
ACT (American College Testing) – (319) 337-1313
CLT (Classic Learning Test – (443) 782-3733

Please Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required materials for the admission application file are received by the Office of Admission by the applicable deadline in order to be considered by the Admission Committee.