Residency Requirement
In congruence with Pepperdine's mission to establish a community that fosters social, academic, and spiritual growth, all new undergraduate residents are required to live on campus and have a meal plan for their first two academic years, including all transfer residents who are required to live on campus and have a meal plan for their first academic year.
The only exception applies to spring transfer residents who are required to live on campus and have a meal plan for one semester (the spring term when they begin Pepperdine).
We believe the relationships and community built during these first years of attending Pepperdine are vital to the college experience. Housing and Residence Life provides an atmosphere that empowers students to make connections between faith, living, and learning within a diverse community. National and Pepperdine studies have shown that students who live on campus have higher grades, higher graduation rates, and higher satisfaction levels with their campus experience.
When a housing contract is submitted for the academic year (fall and spring semesters), students will be required to live on campus for the entire academic year. When calculating semesters, International Program housing counts, but summer or winter break terms are not considered a semester due to the number of days involved. Please refer to the Student Handbook for this policy and your Housing Terms and Conditions for additional information.
Residency Exemption
Because we highly value students being in community, exemptions will be made very rarely and only under special circumstances. Please note that exemption requests are carefully considered, and students must provide specific details regarding their necessity to live off campus and how their living situation off campus will be more beneficial than the supportive and active environment of the Pepperdine community.
To request access to the form:
1. Complete the appropriate application* for the relevant term via the Housing Portal.
2. Email housing@pepperdine.edu from your Pepperdine email account to confirm you have submitted the contract and that you'd like to submit an exemption request.
3. Complete the exemption request form within 72 hours or by the deadline shared in our confirmation email. Please note: You may be required to submit supporting documentation in order to complete the process.
*Please note that submission of the housing contract is a necessary first step to the exemption request process.
HRL's Board of Review meets weekly, and it may take up to 10 business days to receive a decision, depending on the date your request is received. Requests received after the posted deadlines may not receive answers within 10 business days. We recommend that you do not make any off-campus commitments until you receive a decision. Once a decision is made, it will be sent directly to your Pepperdine email account.
Deadlines
Incoming Freshmen/Transfers/New Students
Fall admits: June 2
Spring admits: December 6
Returning Students
Fall returners: March 1
Spring returners: November 1