Pepperdine University vs Pitzer College: which has better ROI?
Pitzer College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $136,764 in 6.5 years versus 6.7 years at Pepperdine University, on median earnings of $69,512 vs $82,939 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pepperdine University | Pitzer College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $58,098 | $34,191 |
| Total net cost | $232,392 | $136,764 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,939 | $69,512 |
| Median debt | $23,510 | $16,750 |
| Payback | 6.7 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $459,188 | $286,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pepperdine University or Pitzer College?
Pitzer College, at $34,191 a year after aid versus $58,098 — a gap of $23,907 a year, or $95,628 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pepperdine University or Pitzer College graduates earn more?
Pepperdine University graduates report a median $82,939 ten years after entry, $13,427 more than the $69,512 at Pitzer College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Pepperdine University or Pitzer College?
Pitzer College: its completers carry a median $16,750 in federal loans versus $23,510 at Pepperdine University, a difference of $6,760. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Pitzer College, against 83% at Pepperdine University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.