Finance and Financial Management Services at Pepperdine University

At $23,508 in estimated debt, this program sits near the national median but well above what most California finance programs report—the state median debt is just $15,663. That said, based on comparable California finance programs, first-year earnings around $60,000 would put you squarely at the state median and above the national benchmark of $53,590. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests manageable repayment, roughly equivalent to less than five months of gross pay.

The challenge is that these figures are derived from peer programs statewide, not Pepperdine's actual graduates in this major. Given that several California competitors—Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, University of San Francisco—report significantly higher earnings (in the $65,000-$80,000 range), Pepperdine may perform better or worse than the state median suggests. The school's 1367 SAT average and relatively selective admission (50%) hint at a stronger student profile, which could translate to better outcomes, but we simply don't have the data to confirm this.

If you're considering Pepperdine for finance, recognize you're making a decision with limited visibility into this specific program's track record. The estimated numbers suggest a workable financial outcome, but with actual debt potentially higher than peer schools and uncertainty around earnings, you'll want to dig into career services strength, alumni networks in finance, and placement rates before committing to what will likely be a six-figure total investment.