Head-to-head comparison
Pepperdine University vs Westmont College: 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 Santa Barbara, CA
Westmont College
- Net price / year
- $29,053
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,778
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
Pepperdine University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $232,392 in 6.7 years versus 7.1 years at Westmont College, on median earnings of $82,939 vs $64,778 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pepperdine University | Westmont College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $58,098 | $29,053 |
| Total net cost | $232,392 | $116,212 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,939 | $64,778 |
| Median debt | $23,510 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 6.7 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $459,188 | $212,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pepperdine University or Westmont College?
Westmont College, at $29,053 a year after aid versus $58,098 — a gap of $29,045 a year, or $116,180 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 Westmont College graduates earn more?
Pepperdine University graduates report a median $82,939 ten years after entry, $18,161 more than the $64,778 at Westmont 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Pepperdine University or Westmont College?
Westmont College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $23,510 at Pepperdine University, a difference of $260. 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 70% at Westmont College. 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.