Pepperdine University Ascends in U.S. News and World Report Rankings
Pepperdine University ascended four spots in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings of the nation’s “Best National Universities.” For the 2026–27 cycle, Pepperdine is specifically ranked 80 (tied) out of 427 institutions of higher education—a sign of positive forward progress in an era of new rankings metrics and college analytics.
“At Pepperdine, we are committed to not just maintaining our standard of academic excellence, but furthering it,” says Lee Kats, the dean of Seaver College. “The latest U.S. News rankings illustrate our dedication to providing students with a transformative education—one that challenges them to grow as holistic people of faith, as critical thinkers, and as innovative problem solvers. Going forward, we will continue to emphasize our unique approach to learning, where undergraduates are empowered by a curriculum enriched with high-impact practices and abundant opportunities to engage one-on-one with faculty mentors.”
In recent years, U.S. News has been altering its ranking metrics, adding and removing categories in its overall evaluation of the nation’s universities. This process continued in 2026, as the publication again revised its ranking system to include an “Earning by Major” category, which analyzes alumni career outcomes of each institution’s individual fields of study.
The new metric helped boost Pepperdine’s overall standing, as the institution ranked 45th in “Earning by Major,” highlighting the success of the University’s equipped and talented alumni. Further, Pepperdine improved in several other significant categories including “Peer Assessment,” “Research Publications Cited in the Top 5% of Journals,” and “Student/Faculty Ratio.”
In sum, the improvement in the U.S. News rankings recognizes the success of Pepperdine’s key distinctives. Examples of the metrics and stories that distinguish the University and demonstrate its mission to prepare students for lives of Greater Purpose follow:
Top-Ranked Protestant Christian College
As the top-ranked Protestant Christian college, Pepperdine University bases its educational mission on the twin pillars of faith and learning. In Malibu students study in an environment dedicated to nurturing both their hearts and minds. This unique campus culture enriches the institution’s overall academic atmosphere, as it unites professors and learners alike in pursuit of God-honoring excellence.
Inspired by Pepperdine’s dual commitments to faith and learning, Randy Corpuz, an associate professor of psychology at Seaver College, uprooted his burgeoning academic career on the East Coast to restart as a professor in Southern California. A dedicated teacher, researcher, and mentor, Corpuz now finds fulfillment investing in undergraduates and shepherding them toward their vocational goals.
“I've been in this long enough to see students of mine go forth and forge their own careers as researchers,” says Corpuz. “To think that I made any small contribution to their trajectory is a real rush of gratification. In those moments, I know I'm doing something God's picked me to do.”
Fifth-Highest Ranked R2 University
Pepperdine’s growing reputation as a producer of top-tier research continues to expand. As the fifth-highest ranked R2 institution in this year’s U.S. News rankings cycle, the University resounds as one of the most lauded schools within its specific Carnegie designation. In the process of developing its scholarly pedigree, Pepperdine has succeeded in opening exciting doors of opportunity for its students to play impactful roles as researchers.
Dwayne Simmons (’80), a renowned neuroscience researcher, professor, and newly inducted fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), was one of the first to benefit from Pepperdine’s undergraduate research offerings in the 1970s. The experience helped him discover his vocational interest and, in turn, inspired him to advocate on behalf of more student research opportunities on campus.
Today’s Pepperdine students continue to benefit from the institution’s expansive research activities. Jason Press (’25), for example, helped build an artificial intelligence system capable of assisting astrophysicists in studying the cosmos.
12th-Ranked International Program
Pepperdine’s International Programs continue to sustain distinction as the 12th -ranked program of its kind. With eight programs on four different continents, Seaver College students have the ability to expand their worldview, develop new cultural competencies, and earn credits toward their degree while studying abroad.
Melanie Menter (’17) exemplifies the impact of the transformative experiences offered by the University’s International Programs. Menter studied at three separate international locations while completing her degree at Pepperdine. These abroad opportunities, in combination with Menter’s undergraduate training in sports medicine, prepared the alumna to pursue her dream of working with the world’s best athletes. Now, as an athlete science and performance specialist for Adidas, Menter resides in Germany, where she helps design the shoes that allow the world’s greatest competitors to push the limits of human performance.
“What drew me to Pepperdine was the University’s International Programs,” explains Menter. “I'm German American, and ever since I was young, I've always loved to travel. Now I get to see the world as a result of my job, but before this, I’d already been to so many different places because of Pepperdine.”
40th-Ranked Undergraduate Teaching Institution
At Pepperdine, students are considered the heart of the institution. As a result, the University’s faculty members view each of their undergraduates as not just numbers on a course roster, but as valued colleagues in pursuit of their calling. Mentorship, accountability, and compassion are all words that typify the student/faculty relationship at Seaver College.
Catherine Illingsworth (’08) found this to be true as a student of Paul Contino, a Distinguished Professor of Great Books at Seaver College. Though Illingsworth didn’t know it at the time, Contino’s guidance through classical literature was preparing her to found and lead a biotech company, Kylix Bio, which is dedicated to helping families discover and cure rare pediatric diseases.
"Mentorship partly entails planting seeds,” explains Contino. “But it's largely about nurturing sprouts that have already begun to grow—recognizing gifts in students that they themselves may not see, helping them to develop the talents they've been given."
44th-Ranked Top Private College
As one of the top-ranked private colleges in the U.S., Pepperdine offers students the chance to immerse themselves in an intentional learning environment filled with exciting, future-focused opportunities. Located in Malibu, California, just 30 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, undergraduates have the chance to expand their classroom from the Santa Monica mountains into America’s second-largest city.
Senior Ines Villarreal has done just that as an integrated marketing communication major at Seaver College. Villarreal took advantage of her focused education and the mentorship she received from faculty and Career Services staff to gain a series of internships within Hollywood’s entertainment industry. This fall, she will continue on as an intern at Warner Bros., where her Pepperdine education has allowed her to grow her professional network.
“I picked Pepperdine because of the opportunities it offered me,” says Villarreal. “Here, you can have a real relationship with your professors—one where they focus on you and your goals for the future. The people I’ve met, the network I’ve developed on this beautiful campus; they’ve all helped me realize what might be next for me as a working professional.”
Learn more about Pepperdine and its distinct educational mission.
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