Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management

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Students Say - Academics
An eminent Southern California institution, Pepperdine University offers more than just sunshine. At this small but progressive school, the MBA curriculum distinguishes itself through a "strong international outlook," as well as a pointed "emphasis on values, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship." Throughout the curriculum, experiential learning and teamwork are stressed, and "group study sessions and projects help simulate real team dynamics." In addition, students benefit from various co-curricular activities and "international experiences," plus "all the leadership positions and extracurricular activities available on campus." A student tells us, "I have worked on research projects with faculty and business plan projects with fellow students." Of particular note, "The education-to-business program, in which students consult for a major local company, is also excellent." Pepperdine "Professors are excellent, especially the finance staff." The best of the best are those who "come from respected industry positions"; however, students admit that, "There are also a number of tenured professors who are disorganized [and] out of touch with current business practices." "Class sizes are small, so you have more of a chance to speak up" and "The faculty-student ratio allows for a more intimate learning environment where the professors can best manage the pace of the class and the students do not get lost in the shuffle." Acurrent student adds, "In the five classes that I am currently taking, all professors know me by name and have made an effort to make sure that all students are on track." On this friendly campus, "Everyone from professors to senior administration is not only accessible but actively interested in helping students get the most out of the program." Depending on your background, experience, and career goals, Pepperdine has a range of MBA options. Full-time students can complete the MBA through a 12-month, 15-month, or 24-month option, while the Fully-Employed MBA is completed in the evenings in as little as two (or as many as seven) years. The school also offers a fast-paced executive MBA, as well as "a five-year BS/MBA program in conjunction with Seaver College, Pepperdine's undergraduate school." While students in the full-time program say, "the workload is heavy but not unmanageable," evening students have the additional challenge of balancing work with academics. In fact, "As a FEMBA [fully-employed MBA student] student, time is precious. Every waking hour is spent in preparation for the next class or group project."

Students Say - Admissions
The Admissions staff at Graziadio provides prospective applicants with one-on-one consultations regarding their suitability for its programs. This acts as a prescreening process; therefore, the school is more selective than its admit rate would suggest.

Students Say - Campus Life
Pepperdine's coastal campus is the perfect place for work or play. Perched above the Pacific Ocean, "The beauty and tranquility of the environment is infectious, and everyone is in a better mood because of where we go to school." The campus also creates an ideal backdrop for student life. Here, "the students are very social and they are very active within campus clubs," providing continuous "opportunities for social and academic growth." The finance club, for example, regularly hosts "guest speakers, hands-on training from alumni and professional training firms, interview workshops, and alumni mixers." Pepperdine attracts a fairly diverse student group, including a "good mix of international and domestic students." Within the business school, there are "some very liberal students (attracted to the school's focus on corporate responsibility) yet also some very conservative students (attracted to the school's Christian values), so no dominant political view among the class." Despite differences, "There is a great social, familial atmosphere among student body." In addition, "The mentorship program, led by second years, provides guidance and support for incoming students, strengthening the bond between the first- and second-year students." While full-time students gush over the Malibu campus, many part-time students go to school on "a satellite campus, so many of the facilities available to students at the main campus are not available to us."

Students Say - Careers
Ever-loyal to their alma mater, the Pepperdine "alumni network is incredible, and they all go out of their way to help in any way possible." A current student enthuses, "I have reached out to no less than 25 alums and every single one of them has taken my calls, answered my questions and offered to connect me with others in their company to position myself for a job!" Professors also lend a hand with the job hunt, and many "sponsor and host alumni mixers and often try to help you [find] opportunities for post-graduation." Additionally, job seekers can get help from the Career Center, which offers one-onone counseling to MBA candidates, as well as professional development and networking events. Unfortunately, "It is a small program and big companies do not justify the effort to come on campus to recruit." To add to students' woes, "There are several other good schools in the Los Angeles area, which means competition for jobs is intense." In the full-time program, 57 percent of students had accepted a job within three months of graduation. The top 15 recruiting companies were AT&T, PIMCO, Bank of America, Raytheon Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Activision Blizzard, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, Samsung Electronics, Morgan Stanley, Skechers USA, Wedbush Morgan, Coldwell Banker, Crystal Cruises, Neiman Marcus, and Sharp Industries. In recent years, the mean base salary was roughly $76,000.

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