Applying for Financial Aid and Scholarship Options

Pepperdine scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria, including academic merit, financial need, specific academic programs, and the promotion of cultural diversity at the school.

Please note: Students in the 100% online (Psychology @ Pepperdine) programs are only eligible for the Curtice & Evelyn Booth Veterans Endowed Scholarship and the Waves Got Your Six Scholarship. These scholarships can be combined with other scholarships except Federal and Institutional Military Scholarships/Benefits, Athletic Scholarships, and the GSEP Diversity Scholarship. Students receiving these scholarships/benefits, or other forms of third-party scholarship(s) will require further approvals. Scholarships are generally awarded at the start of the academic year and students must be enrolled full-time (6 units each term) to remain eligible.

To see an updated list of scholarships for continuing students and external scholarship opportunities visit GSEP Financial Aid Scholarships.

If you are a recipient of Pepperdine scholarships, please be aware of the policies applicable to your award:

• Pepperdine Scholarship Policies for New Students
• Pepperdine Scholarship Policies for Continuing Students

GSEP Financial Aid Endowed Scholarships (application required)

You may be considered for endowed scholarships as a continuing student enrolled in GSEP on-ground/hybrid programs. Recipients are considered for each scholarship through submission of the annual GSEP Scholarship Application. The 2021-2022 application is now closed. The 2022-2023 application will open during Summer 2022 and all students will be notified via email with instructions to apply along with the deadline to submit. Applications are then reviewed by the scholarship committee and applicants are notified of the status of their application at least one month prior to the start of the Fall term. Chosen recipients will be required to submit a Thank You Letter to their Donor(s). 

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student's course of study.

Here's a quick overview of Federal Work-Study:

• It provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school.
• It's available to graduate, and professional students with financial need.
• It's available to full-time or part-time students.

If you are interested in utilizing Federal Work-Study funds:

• You must submit the FAFSA.
• You must secure a position through Student Employment and indicate interest in Federal Work-Study upon being hired.
• You will then be notified by our office of the award amount. The Federal Work-Study funds you earn are not applied directly to your WaveNet account but are earned via your student position and distributed through your bi-weekly paycheck.

A loan is aid that must be repaid. Total aid awarded in loans, grants, and scholarships may not exceed a student's total Cost of Attendance. If eligible, the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan will be included in the financial aid award package. Students who require additional funds may apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan or a Private Educational Loan. For a quick comparison between these two types of loans, please view this Federal Student Loan vs Private Student Loan comparison chart.

Please see our main website for more information about these loan options.