Head-to-head comparison
Pepperdine University vs Concordia University-Irvine: which has better ROI?
Option A Malibu, CA
Pepperdine University
- Net price / year
- $58,098
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,939
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Option B Irvine, CA
Concordia University-Irvine
- Net price / year
- $28,115
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,083
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Pepperdine University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $232,392 in 6.7 years versus 6.7 years at Concordia University-Irvine, on median earnings of $82,939 vs $65,083 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pepperdine University | Concordia University-Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $58,098 | $28,115 |
| Total net cost | $232,392 | $112,460 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,939 | $65,083 |
| Median debt | $23,510 | $24,247 |
| Payback | 6.7 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $459,188 | $222,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pepperdine University or Concordia University-Irvine?
Concordia University-Irvine, at $28,115 a year after aid versus $58,098 — a gap of $29,983 a year, or $119,932 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Pepperdine University or Concordia University-Irvine graduates earn more?
Pepperdine University graduates report a median $82,939 ten years after entry, $17,856 more than the $65,083 at Concordia University-Irvine. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Pepperdine University or Concordia University-Irvine?
Pepperdine University: its completers carry a median $23,510 in federal loans versus $24,247 at Concordia University-Irvine, a difference of $737. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Pepperdine University, against 58% at Concordia University-Irvine. 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.