Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University reported $755.1 million in revenue and $666.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.14 went to program services, $22.46 to management and general costs and $1.40 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 73.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,323,005 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 547 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 30% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $666MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $755MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 7.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 73.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,323,005 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.20% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 547 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 35.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 21 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseStudent services, including scholarships to enrolled students - there are many auxiliary services offered to the students to promote their intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development. Pepperdine University maintains multiple dining and housing facilities, a bookstore, banking services, parking facilities located all over campus, transportation services, recreational fields, and mail services. In addition to these facilities and services, Pepperdine University offers approximately 83% of its total student body financial aid in the form of various scholarships, grants, and loans
Academic support - Pepperdine University equips students with academic support to ensure students reach their educational goals. University services such as the library, tech central, pepperdine counseling center, the health center, and one stop, the primary academic advising center, assist in the well-being and academic progress of the university's students
Instruction and research - Pepperdine University is a top christian institution for higher education, and serves approximately 3,600 undergraduate students and 5,400 graduate students. In addition to the university's campuses in california, Pepperdine University maintains several student learning programs in locations such as europe, south america, and washington d.c. Pepperdine University believes in a low student-faculty ratio (13:1) and has an average class size of 18. The university offers 43 majors that undergraduates can pursue, as well as 38 graduate degrees, including seven doctoral…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $917,815 | $0 | $405,190 | $1,323,005 |
| PROVOST & CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $473,194 | $0 | $382,341 | $855,535 |
| EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $440,255 | $0 | $276,727 | $716,982 |
| HEAD COACH, BASKETBALL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $558,269 | $0 | $21,022 | $579,291 |
| DEAN, CARUSO SCHOOL OF LAW Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $353,109 | $0 | $221,378 | $574,487 |
| CHANCELLOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $498,205 | $0 | $61,860 | $560,065 |
| PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $478,467 | $0 | $48,896 | $527,363 |
| CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $447,528 | $0 | $76,885 | $524,413 |
547 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pepperdine University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $11M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b21 · 20 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 55,155
- Volunteers Part I, line 620
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP - CA LP Construction | $88,310,245 |
| 2U INC E-learning | $54,190,121 |
| BON APPETIT MANAGEMENT COMPANY Catering | $11,411,379 |
| TURNER & TOWNSEND HEERY LLC Construction | $5,233,313 |
| THE PENTA BUILDING GROUP LLC Construction | $3,560,852 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 223 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
75 private foundations reported grants to Pepperdine University totaling $9.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Pepperdine University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pepperdine University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Pepperdine University spent in FY2025, $76.14 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · revenue $741M · programs 80.2% · FY2025
- Chapman UniversityOrange, CA · revenue $758M · programs 88.5% · FY2025
- Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY · revenue $737M · programs 87.9% · FY2025
- Amherst College TrusteesAmherst, MA · revenue $776M · programs 77.1% · FY2025
- Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY · revenue $734M · programs 89.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Pepperdine University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Pepperdine University reported that 76.1% of its $666.5 million in expenses went to program services, 22.5% to management and general and 1.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pepperdine University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pepperdine University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $1,323,005, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pepperdine University get its money?
Of $755.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 7.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.7% from government grants) and 73.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pepperdine University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-1644037 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, object 202611539349301221 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202501569349301705 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202441669349300249 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202321649349301852 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202201659349301330 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202141659349301634 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-1644037: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.