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Comparable Schools'
Diversity Grades:
College Prowler Take
Some are willing to give Pepperdine credit for trying, with its international exchange program and so on, but most students agree that diversity is not a Pepperdine hallmark. There are noticeably few black students, although to say, as many do, that the African American student population is limited to the basketball team is probably to overstate Pepperdine’s diversity deficiency. The student body does get kudos for economic diversity—heiresses and scholarship kids are pretty equally represented. And gender-wise, both sexes are pretty prevalent on campus. In all seriousness, though, diversity is a real problem in the sense that college applicants looking for a place to branch out culturally after high school will find Pepperdine disappointing. White, Christian Californians clearly dominate the campus scene, and behind them seems to be a glut of white folks from Colorado, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest. Not that there’s anything wrong with white folks or any of these fine locals, but Pepperdine could certainly use more ethnic and cultural variety. Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
The Pep population is pretty...
The Pep population is pretty homogenous—all white kids. All the black kids, it seems, are on the basketball team. There are lots of international students, but these international students are either from Asia or Europe. I am Filipina and black. My friends are Hawaiian, white, and Mexican, and they all come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Diversity does exist on this campus. It just takes digging a little deeper to get to know people. |
Anonymous says: |
I’m Asian, and I found the campus...
I’m Asian, and I found the campus to be more diverse than I originally thought. It’s a pretty fair mix of people. I came from a mainly white neighborhood, so what one person would define as diverse might be something totally opposite than my definition. But, it’s nice seeing people of different cultures around; it’s definitely a good thing. |
Anonymous says: |
It depends on what you’re used to....
It depends on what you’re used to. I don’t find it extremely diverse, but my roommate, who is from Arkansas, thinks it’s very diverse. |
Anonymous says: |
Pepperdine is fairly diverse, but...
Pepperdine is fairly diverse, but it is not the extreme. |
Anonymous says: |
People think it’s diverse; I think...
People think it’s diverse; I think they’re crazy. It’s pretty much Caucasian. |
FactsEconomic Status
The stereotypical Pepperdine student drives a BMW or a Porsche and never wears the same pair of designer jeans or high heels twice. However, people exaggerate the wealth and beauty of the Pepperdine student body because, even though many students are not rich or gorgeous, one tends to notice the dazzling blonde stepping out of a new Mercedes convertible, and not the backdrop of regular-looking and scholarship-funded college kids. Still, if you're looking for a preponderance of affluent students, look no further than Pepperdine.
Gay Pride
Pepperdine encourages its students to explore new ideas and challenge traditional worldviews, but the university does little to foster a spirit of tolerance in regards to homosexuality. While students of varying sexual orientation can be found on campus, there is a general atmosphere of homophobia and fear of administrative retribution. Despite the allegedly high population of homosexual men on campus, they are not a visible student group, and most gay and lesbian students keep their parties “underground.”
Minority Clubs
Sample: African Alliance, Armenian Student Association, Asian Student Association, the Black Student Union, Cultural Italian American Organization, Hawaii Club, Latino Student Association, Pan-Chinese Student Union, Pepperdine Asian Student Association, Pepperdine International Club, Pepperdine University Hispanic Council
Most Common Religions
The student body is spiritually homogenous; unsurprising considering the huge emphasis the university places on religion. The vast majority of Pepperdine students identify themselves as Christians, with the Church of Christ and Catholicism as the dominant denominations. Less than one percent of the student body is Jewish or Islamic, and in general the few non-Christians are atheist or agnostic.
Political Activity
Far from a hotbed of political activism, the Pepperdine campus is generally apathetic to the greater happenings of the world. Students call it the “Malibubble” for a good reason. Despite the faculty’s best attempts at inspiring some sort of political fervor in the student body, the typical student is far more interested in remedying world hunger than in the United States government. While the College Republicans put up a strong front during election years and tempt the quietly conservative student body with guest speakers, the Young Democrats and College Libertarians have little presence on campus.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Jackie Fetzer
Hometown: Huntersville, NC
Major: English Writing and Rhetoric Jackie tried out for Pepperdine's water polo team without knowing how to swim first?and made it! Contributing Author Internship
College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
really like at your college. Read more about the internship.
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