Pepperdine Earns Top 20 California Rankings In 9 Categories

MALIBU, CA — Pepperdine University earned high marks in several categories in Niche’s newly released 2027 college rankings.

The Pittsburgh-based college search and review site evaluated more than 4,000 colleges and universities nationwide, using federal data along with student and alumni reviews.

Stanford University ranked No. 2 nationally on Niche’s 2027 Best Colleges in America list and No. 1 in California. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) ranked second, followed by Harvey Mudd College, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Pomona College.

Pepperdine ranked No. 437 among all schools nationwide and No. 39 in California.

It ranked in the top 20 in California in several areas:

• Best Christian Colleges in California (No. 6)
• Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in California (No. 11)
• Best Colleges for Student Athletes in California (No. 13)
• Best Colleges for Communications in California (No. 15)
• Best Colleges for Economics in California (No. 15)
• Colleges with the Best Academics in California (No. 18)
• Best College Athletics in California (No. 19)
• Best Colleges for Business in California (No. 20)
• Best Colleges that Accept the Common App in California (No. 20)

Niche publishes rankings for categories including value, academics, professors, student life, campuses, majors, public universities and liberal arts colleges, as well as rankings by state.

Niche’s rankings combine federal data with reviews from students and alumni, weighing factors including academics, value, professors, campus life, diversity and safety.

For 2027, Niche also added a measure that compares colleges with similar institutions based on their missions and outcomes. The site also introduced pilot grades for student wellness and “future readiness,” including career services, internships and exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

• See also: The 10 Best Colleges In CA, According To New 2027 Ranking