With stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, Pepperdine boasts what is arguably the most beautiful campus setting in American higher education. Proximity to L.A., only 35 miles away, contributes to its growing popularity. Pepperdine describes itself as a “Christian university,” and students come ready to embrace its conservative Christian emphasis.

With picturesque surroundings, it’s easy to confuse Pepperdine University with a Southern Californian resort. Surrounded by the beautiful seashore, Pepperdine University might seem like paradise for students seeking sunshine rather than studies at this conservative Christian university, though students take their work and their worship seriously. “The philosophy of the school is that God and the academic experience must be married,” says a senior communication major. “This creates an intimate learning environment that prides itself on moral integrity and a high academic standard.” Business and communication are the most blessed programs, though other departments deserve recognition too. Undergrads praise their educational opportunities, the strength of their school’s spiritual community, and the vast sandy beaches beckoning below their hilltop campus.

There’s no denying that Pepperdine’s location, nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is a strong selling point. The 830-acre Malibu campus, to which the school moved in 1972, overlooks the Pacific Ocean and features fountains, hillside gardens, mountain trails, and a 20-minute walk to the beach. Spanish revival architecture-cream-colored stucco buildings topped with red ceramic tile roofs-dots the landscape. The Phillips Theme Tower, a 125-foot-tall white stucco cross, stands 345 feet above sea level on the outskirts of campus, reminding students and faculty of the school’s Christian heritage.

Pepperdine was founded in 1937 by George Pepperdine, a lifelong member of the conservative Churches of Christ who established a hugely successful retail auto parts company and became concerned that too many young people were losing their religious faith when they entered college. The church’s continued influence on the school pervades many aspects of campus life, from the prohibition of overnight dorm room visits by members of the opposite sex to the requirement that students attend convocation-similar to chapel-14 times each semester. Drinking is officially prohibited on campus too. Though restrictions like this would drive the average American kid up a wall, most Pepperdine students like what one calls the “highly moral” atmosphere. “In comparison to other schools, Pepperdine students generally have a more religious foundation and thus have high standards of moral integrity,” opines a student.

The academic programs of Seaver College, Pepp’s undergraduate school, aim to provide students a “traditional liberal arts curriculum based on a Christian worldview.” Individual classes are demanding, as is the required General Education program, which includes a freshman seminar and courses in English composition, speech and rhetoric, math, a foreign language, Western culture, world civilizations, laboratory science, fine arts, literature, and human institutions and behavior. Students must also take three religion courses. Faculty members are said to be accessible and responsive-not surprising when 69 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students. One student says professors “demand a lot from their students and expect a high standard and quality of work.”

The business administration department is unequivocally the strongest and most popular at Pepperdine, and it tends to set the tone on campus. Those seeking advanced business education can enroll in a B.S./M.B.A. program that allows them to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Seaver College and an M.B.A. from the university’s graduate business school in five years. The communication department, with majors including advertising, public relations, and journalism, is also highly touted and boasts radio and television broadcasting studios. Psychology, sports medicine, economics, and biology are also popular. Dual-degree engineering programs are available in partnership with the University of Southern California and Washington University in St. Louis. The well-organized Career Center allows students to sign up for job fairs, interviews, and individual and group career-counseling sessions. Sophomores interested in international culture may spend a year at Pepperdine’s own facilities in Buenos Aires, Florence, Heidelberg, Lausanne, London, or Shanghai. Locations for summer study have included East Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Madrid, and Oxford. Roughly two-thirds of Pepperdine’s undergraduates participate in short- and long-term study abroad programs.

One might expect students at this religiously oriented school to be politically conservative, and a good portion are. Many come from well-to-do California Republican families; there are also quite a few wealthy international students. Students joke that there’s never a shortage of Porsches and BMWs on campus, but there is a shortage of places to park them. “I think students who are struggling financially would have a difficult time fitting in,” confesses an advertising major. Overall, 45 percent of undergraduates are California natives, and 13 percent come from abroad. Hispanics account for 13 percent of the students, Asian Americans 11 percent, African Americans 4 percent, and multiracial students 8 percent. The Republican influence is felt far and wide. Pepperdine has received millions of dollars from conservative donors, including the late Pittsburgh financier Richard Mellon Scaife. Nevertheless, one student says, “Pepperdine tends to shy away from political activism.” The university awards merit scholarships averaging $20,400 to top achievers, in addition to nearly 350 athletic scholarships in 15 sports.

Sixty percent of undergraduates live on campus. A senior declares that Pepperdine’s residence halls are “comfortable, convenient, and really quite nice.” Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and the housing stock consists of 25 dorms, including the newer, suite-style Seaside Residence Hall. Freshmen are typically assigned to suites with bathrooms, living rooms, and four double bedrooms. Some consider these arrangements crowded, but a junior says they “connect freshmen instantly to seven suitemates and friends.” Despite the above-average cost of living in the Malibu area, many upperclassmen choose to live off campus. As for campus dining, a senior says, “The meals are just OK.” Some students express a desire for greater transparency regarding incidents of campus sexual harassment and assault, reporting that the administration “has tried to hide certain cases without sharing them with the student body.”

Some say flashy student vehicles fit into the small, very wealthy community of Malibu better than the students themselves. Because the social scene in Malibu is pretty slack, with a 10 p.m. noise curfew and high price tags for everything, students typically head to L.A., Hollywood, Westwood, and Santa Monica for fun. “For a large proportion of students, academics and their social lives take priority over religious matters,” says a public relations major. “Parties on weekends are well attended and probably draw a larger portion of students than church on Sunday.” Eighteen percent of the men and 27 percent of the women join one of five national fraternities or eight national sororities, which are playing a larger role in social life. Along with student government, they sponsor dances, movies, and other typical college activities, including the occasional illicit drink. “Pepperdine enforces a ‘dry’ campus,” says one student. The Tyler Campus Center serves as the main social center, and annual events including Songfest, Waves Weekend, and Midnight Madness draw crowds.

Sports receive a lot of attention at Pepperdine. The Waves compete in the Division I West Coast Conference. Competitive teams include men’s golf, baseball, and women’s beach volleyball. Nine club and intramural sports keep students busy, as does the physical education department, with classes in everything from surfing to ballet. A tennis pavilion and recreation center serves varsity jocks and weekend warriors alike.

Pepperdine has taken up the challenge of trying to marry the Christian focus of a Bible college with the academic rigor of a secular university-all in a location not known for the strength of its moral fiber. Students love to tease their well-manicured university with T-shirts proclaiming, “Pepperdine. 8-month party. 50K cover charge.” But most seem to think the solid, values-oriented education they receive is worth the stiff price tag.

-Fiske Guide