General Admission Policies
Pepperdine University seeks students possessing distinctive academic promise, high standards of personal conduct, and a sense of professionalism. In the admission process, these factors are considered in the evaluation of each applicant.
The University’s admission decision is based upon the information supplied on the Application for Admission form, all college transcripts, appropriate entrance examinations, essay(s), resume and letters of recommendation. Other admission documents may be required. Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is, at the University’s discretion, grounds for withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
The policies in this section apply to both undergraduate and graduate students. The program sections of this catalog provide specific admission requirements for each program.
Application Procedures
The Graziadio Business School undergraduate and graduate applications are available online. The application fee varies by program and is non-refundable. To be considered for admission, prospective students must complete and submit their application and supplemental documents by the deadline date published online. Prospective students are responsible for monitoring their application file status in the WaveNet student portal and for making appropriate arrangements to meet file completion requirements.
The Admission Office reserves the right to administratively withdraw an applicant’s file who has not provided the minimum required documents for decision.
A prospective student does not need to submit a new Application for Admission unless 2 years have elapsed since the previous application or additional academic work has been completed.
All documents submitted to the Admission Office become the property of Pepperdine University. Documents will not be returned or duplicated for any purpose. Refer to the Record Retention Policy for Applicants for additional information.
Applications to Multiple Programs in a Single Term
Prospective students have the opportunity to apply for more than one program in a single term. If admitted to multiple programs, the admitted student may only submit an Intent to Enroll and enrollment deposit or fee for one program. Students may only be matriculated to one program at a time, unless participating in an approved joint University program.
Withdrawing an Application
Applicants must request in writing to withdraw their application prior to an admission decision. All documents submitted to the Admission Office become the property of Pepperdine University. Documents will not be returned or duplicated for any purpose.
A prospective student does not need to submit a new Application for Admission unless 2 years have elapsed since the previous application or additional academic work has been completed.
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School (PGBS) vary by individual program, based on the particular criteria, objectives, and evaluation methods of the program to which a candidate has applied. A completed electronic application form, professional resume, personal statement, and academic transcripts from all previously attended universities are required by all programs. Most Graziadio Business School programs include additional requirements, such as standardized entrance/diagnostic tests, letters of recommendation, interviews, and other items that may be necessary to conduct a thorough and holistic evaluation of an applicant’s suitability for admission. The application requirements for each program are outlined online.
Transcripts
As an essential element in every admission application, an academic transcript must be provided for each college or university previously attended. For purposes of application review, an unofficial transcript(s) is acceptable. However, admitted students who plan to enroll must submit an official transcript for each college or university previously attended by the first day of the academic term. Failure to do so may result in a delay to the program start or a revocation of the admission offer.
All transcripts reflecting completed and/or in-progress coursework must be submitted to the Graziadio Business School Admission Office. The official transcript(s) must be issued electronically by the Registrar’s secured transcript provider or issued by the Registrar in a sealed envelope.
New students unable to complete their admission file prior to the first day of the term because of courses in progress, at the discretion of the Admission Office, may be allowed to enroll under unclassified status for the first term. Unclassified status requires students to submit a degree verification letter from the Registrar prior to the first day of the term and complete their file of other outstanding items within 14 business days from the start of the term. Failure to do so may result in revoking registration for future terms, forfeiture of the student’s seat in the program, or deferment to a future start term. Units earned while on unclassified status do not guarantee admission.
Entrance/Diagnostic Test Scores
For programs that require an entrance and/or diagnostic test, unofficial score reports are acceptable for application review. However, admitted students must submit an official score report by the first day of the term. Failure to do so may result in a delay to the program start or a revocation of the admission offer. Official score reports are accepted electronically directly from the test provider or in a sealed envelope directly from the test provider.
Admission of International Students
In addition to the application requirements, international applicants must submit evaluated and translated transcripts and provide evidence of English language proficiency.
Evaluated and Translated Transcripts
International applicants who earned their undergraduate/graduate degree in a language other than English are required to submit an evaluated and translated transcript from World Education Services, International Education Research Foundation, or another National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved evaluation service. The evaluated and translated transcripts must indicate degree equivalency, course-by-course equivalency, verification of accreditation, and include a cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale (A=4.0).
Evidence of English Language Proficiency
International applicants who earned their undergraduate/graduate degree in a language other than English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency. Applicants must submit one of the following to fulfill the English proficiency requirement:
-
Test scores taken within the past two years from one of the following providers: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE).
-
Academic transcript from an accredited U.S. college/university, reflecting a grade of “C” or better in a college-level English Composition course. ESL and remedial English courses are not accepted.
Exceptions to the English Language Proficiency requirement may be granted for applicants who:
Admitted students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents must submit an International Student Data form. Instructions for this process may be accessed online.
Admission of Veterans
Veterans who seek admission should follow the regular admission policies but also should contact the Office of Student Information and Services (Registrar’s Office) on the Malibu campus. This should be done as early as possible to expedite handling of applicants’ VA forms and counseling. Many of Pepperdine University’s programs are approved for veterans’ benefits; however, because assignment and distribution of funds are controlled by the federal Veterans Administration office rather than by the University, Pepperdine University cannot assure that a student will receive veterans’ benefits. Veterans must be admitted to the University before receiving benefits. Veterans are advised to consult the “Academic Policies” section of this catalog under “Information for Veterans .”
Notification of Admission Decision
Applicants will be officially notified of their application decision via e-mail by the PGBS Admission Office. All other communication a candidate may have regarding his/her admission status will be considered unofficial and be superseded by the official notification.
Offer of Admission
The offer of admission is valid for the program and term specified in the official notification of admission. To reserve their spot in the program, admitted students must submit an Intent to Enroll and if applicable, must submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit or fee in the WaveNet student portal by the date specified in their admission letter. The enrollment deposit/fee is non-refundable, and the amount varies by program. The funds are applied either toward the first trimester of tuition or other program-related costs, as delineated in the Financial Information of the PGBS Catalog. Incoming students are subject to any curriculum changes that may be instituted between the initial offer of admission and the start of the program.
Students admitted to more than one program can only submit an Intent to Enroll and non-refundable enrollment deposit or fee to one program.
Admitted students are required to update the Admission Office in a timely fashion of any new information including but not limited to gpa, employment, academic disciplinary action, academic misconduct, criminal issues, that may affect their admission offer. Failure to do so, may result in withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
Provisional Admission
Applicants with outstanding admission materials may, at the discretion of the Admission Office, be granted admission on a provisional basis. The provisional admission status must be removed prior to the start of the program by providing the outstanding materials by the first day of the term. Failure to do so may result in the forfeiture of the student’s seat in the program and deferment to a future start term. Students are responsible for monitoring their application file status in the WaveNet student portal and for making appropriate arrangements to meet file completion requirements. Upon receipt of all required admission materials, written confirmation will be sent to the student from the Admission Office.
New students unable to complete their admission file prior to the first day of the term because of courses in progress, at the discretion of the Admission Office, may be allowed to enroll under unclassified status for the first term. Unclassified status requires students to submit a degree verification letter from the Registrar prior to the first day of the term and complete their file of other outstanding items within 14 business days from the start of the term. Failure to do so may result in revoking registration for future terms, forfeiture of the student’s seat in the program, or deferment to a future start term. Units earned while on unclassified status do not guarantee admission. Upon receipt of all required admission materials, written confirmation will be sent to the student from the Admission Office.
Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is, at the University’s discretion, grounds for withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
Conditional Admission
Some applicants may be initially admitted on a conditional basis, pending the completion of additional requirements. These requirements are typically in the form of additional courses or activities that the program admission committee may deem as necessary preparatory steps to ensure success in the program. The notification of conditional admission will specify a date by which these requirements must be fulfilled in order to gain full admission to the program.
Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is, at the University’s discretion, grounds for withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
Right to Rescind Admission
The University’s admission decision is based upon the information supplied on the Application for Admission form, all college transcripts, appropriate entrance examinations, essay(s), resume and letters of recommendation. Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is, at the University’s discretion, grounds for withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
Admitted students are required to update the Admission Office in a timely fashion of any new information including but not limited to gpa, employment, academic disciplinary action, academic misconduct, criminal issues, that may affect their admission offer. Failure to do so, may result in withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
Appeals
Applicants denied admission who wish to be reconsidered for the same program in the same term must submit a written request accompanied with new academic information, such as updated test scores or updated grades not previously available at the time of application review. Applicants will receive a written response from the Admission Office. Written requests without new supporting information will not be reviewed.
Deferral of Admission
An admitted student may request to defer up to one-year from the admit term. Enrollment deposits paid will be applied to the deferred term.
Record Retention Policy for Applicants
All documents submitted to the Graziadio Business School Admission Office become the property of Pepperdine University. Documents will not be returned or duplicated for any purpose. Documents for applicants who do not enroll are retained for 2 years and subsequently destroyed. Records for enrolled students are subject to the Graziadio Business School Student Records Policy.
Financial Assistance
To assure the availability of any financial aid, the applicant should contact the Graziadio School Financial Aid Office, located at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, during the admission process, well in advance of registration. Additional information concerning financial aid may be found in the “Financial Aid ” section of this catalog or online.
Enrollment Classification and Admission Status
Unclassified Status
New students unable to complete their admission file prior to the first day of the term because of courses in progress, at the discretion of the Admission Office, may be allowed to enroll under unclassified status for the first term. Unclassified status requires students to submit a degree verification letter from the Registrar prior to the first day of the term and complete their file of other outstanding items within 14 business days from the start of the term. Failure to do so may result in revoking registration for future terms, forfeiture of the student’s seat in the program, or deferment to a future start term.
Students are responsible for monitoring their application file status in the WaveNet student portal and for making appropriate arrangements to meet file completion requirements. Units earned while on unclassified status do not guarantee admission.
Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is, at the University’s discretion, grounds for withdrawal of the offer of admission or for immediate dismissal at any point in the student’s course of study. Dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned.
Non-degree Status
Students may apply for enrollment in Non-degree Status if they do not wish to pursue a degree or credential. Requests for permission to enroll in this status should be addressed to the appropriate Graziadio School Program Office. No amount of course work taken while in Non-degree Status will assure a student of admission.
Status Reactivation - Former PGBS Students
Students who have attended other institutions since leaving Pepperdine University or who have not been enrolled for two consecutive trimesters will need to contact the Graziadio School Program Office to request to reactivate their status. The status reactivation application must be received seven weeks prior to the start of the trimester in which the student wishes to enroll.
Status Reactivation - Involuntary Military Service
Students who are required to withdraw because of involuntary military obligation may be entitled to return provided they were in good academic and financial standing at the time of withdrawal. Students will need to contact the Graziadio School Program Office to request reactivate their status.
Policy for a Second Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
Prospective students interested in pursuing a second Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an area of study different from their original degree must submit an application and supplemental documents for admission consideration. Admitted students must fulfill residency requirements, general studies requirements, and program requirements.
Students who previously received a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University are not eligible for a conferral of a second bachelor’s degree. However, upon the fulfillment of the requirements for the new area of study, they will be certified as having completed an additional undergraduate major.
A graduate of a PGBS master’s program interested in pursuing a second master’s degree at PGBS must seek and obtain approval from the relevant Graziadio School Program Office and Program committee, prior to submitting an Admission application.
The same procedure applies to those who have earned a business-related master’s degree at another institution who are seeking a PGBS master’s degree in a similar discipline. In these cases, the request must be accompanied by a copy of the non-PGBS Master’s program description, course descriptions, and an unofficial copy of transcripts.
Technology Requirements
All students are expected to own or have access to a computer that may be used for class-related work. Students in on-ground programs should have access to a laptop computer with capability of Internet access that can be brought to class at the request of faculty. Students in online programs should own or have unlimited access to a desktop or laptop computer with the capability of broadband Internet access.
Additionally, students will be expected, as needed, to install Microsoft Office products (i.e., Word®, Excel®, PowerPoint®, Outlook®, and Access®) on that computer. Other software requirements may be assigned during the course of the program.
The list below provides minimum requirements
PC Minimum Requirements
- Windows 10 Operating System (English version)
- Office 365
- Intel core i3 processor, 2.4 GHz or faster
- 8 GB RAM
- 250 GB hard drive
- Integrated Ethernet (network) card
- Integrated wireless network card (minimum 802-11b)
- USB ports
Recommended for PC
- Windows 10
- Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019
- Intel core i5 processor, 2.4 GHz or faster
- 8+ GB RAM
- 250 GB hard drive
- 256 MB discrete video
- Integrated Ethernet (network) card
- Integrated wireless network card (802.11 b/g/n)
- USB ports
Apple/MAC OSX 10.13 Minimum Requirements
- Office 365
- Intel dual core processor, 2.4 GHz or faster
- 8 GB RAM
- 128 MB discrete video
- 250 GB hard drive
- Integrated Ethernet (network) card
- Integrated wireless network card (minimum 802-11b)
- USB ports
Recommended for Apple/MAC OSX 10.15
- Parallels or Bootcamp with Windows 10 and Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019
- Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019
- Intel core i5 processor, 2.4 GHz or faster
- 8+ GB RAM
- 250 GB hard drive
- 256 MB discrete video
- Integrated Ethernet (network) card
- Integrated wireless network card (802.11 b/g/n)
- USB ports
Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and PowerPoint® Proficiency
Students must demonstrate proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software within the first trimester of enrollment. Microsoft Office is supported and available for student use at graduate campus computer laboratories located in West Los Angeles, Irvine, and Encino.