Go There
The Pepperdine Way
The purpose of higher education is to develop and equip people of value and virtue who in turn create value and virtue in their communities, countries, and the rest of the world.
At Pepperdine University, we are a community committed to academic excellence, which demands integrity, develops critical thinking, and spurs intellectual exploration. We embrace faith as a fundamental part of the human experience. We are committed to character formation, which inspires selfless service and an appreciation for American values, and cultivates cultural humility.
We move students to go there—to embark on intellectual adventures, to pursue faith, to explore the world, to define their purpose, and to serve their neighbors, communities, their nation, and the world. We develop extraordinary leaders who possess the faith, character, courage, and creativity to go where they are needed to help build a flourishing society.
Jim Gash
A Higher Purpose for Higher Education
For centuries, a college education has served a higher purpose—to educate, develop, and equip people with values and virtues that they can use to serve their communities, countries, and the world.
In an op-ed published in Newsweek, president Jim Gash provides his vision for higher education's higher purpose.

How We Go There

Be Curious
Academic exploration that ignites intellectual curiosity.
We encourage students to pursue the truth, question assumptions, and engage in constructive dialogue. We foster critical thinking and intellectual curiosity through rigorous academic programs and research that inspire deep analysis and intellectual exploration. In the pursuit of truth, we value open-mindedness and encourage students to question assumptions and freely engage in constructive dialogue with conviction and compassion. We safeguard academic freedom, encouraging faculty and students to pursue research and scholarship free of undue interference or censorship.

Thrive in Faith
Spiritual formation at the intersection of faith and learning.
As a Christian university, we believe a student's faith is an inextricable part of the whole person. We purposefully integrate faith and learning and cultivate a vibrant and consistent spiritual life at the University. Our students' participation in leadership programs and service projects demonstrates faith in action and equips students with the values that move them to transform their communities, nations, and the world.

Know and Love Your Neighbor
A local and global perspective that inspires connectedness.
Grounded in our belief that everyone is created in the image of God and is worthy of dignity and respect, our programs and initiatives cultivate a humble appreciation for all communities and cultures represented on each of our 10 campuses and around the world. Pepperdine's values of purpose, service, and leadership come to life through meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange that bring about an understanding of global issues and build cultural competence.
Developing students to become who they were created to be starts with opportunities to grow into servant leaders. Pepperdine emphasizes ethics education to develop leaders who value integrity, accountability, and principled decision-making. We lead initiatives and partnerships that demonstrate a commitment to service, civic responsibility, and community engagement so our students may serve as examples of ethical leadership within the broader community.
Discover Pepperdine
Beauty
The power of a place and its beauty can ignite a sense of curiosity and adventure that leads to new beginnings.
The Path Begins
Forging your own path toward a fulfilling future begins with a single step.
A Teacher Is Timeless
Teachers make an indelible and impactful mark on students that is felt throughout their academic journey and beyond.

At Pepperdine, we believe the purpose of higher education is to develop and equip people of value and virtue who in turn create value and virtue in their communities, countries, and the rest of the world. We invite you to explore all the ways in which we do just that.