Pepperdine University 
The information on this page was last updated 6/27/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
At Pepperdine, higher learning is aligned with a higher purpose. By integrating service, worship, and social responsibility with rigorous academic study, we create a community that nurtures heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
Website: pepperdine.edu
Phone: 310-506-4000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 951644037
CEO/President: James Gash
Chairman: Dee Anna Smith
Board size: 22
Founder: George Pepperdine
Ruling year: 1940
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 07/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Pepperdine University will be a preeminent, global, Christian university, known for the integration of faith and learning, whose graduates lead purposeful lives as servant-minded leaders throughout the world.
Our vision statement declares what we intend to become. George Pepperdine envisioned an institution that would transform students' lives so that they would, in turn, impact culture. He imagined a vast body of alumni-men and women conscious of their good fortune, recipients of the generous gift of a Christian education-who would feel the moral imperative to serve others sacrificially. Hence, the school's motto: "Freely ye received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
Mission statement
Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
Statement of faith
As a Christian university Pepperdine affirms:
That God is
That God is revealed uniquely in Christ
That the educational process may not, with impunity, be divorced from the divine process
That the student, as a person of infinite dignity, is the heart of the educational enterprise
That the quality of student life is a valid concern of the University
That truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in every discipline
That spiritual commitment, tolerating no excuse for mediocrity, demands the highest standards of academic excellence
That freedom, whether spiritual, intellectual, or economic, is indivisible
That knowledge calls, ultimately, for a life of service.
Articles
| 6/6/2024 | New Commission of Religious Higher Ed Aims to Spark Collaboration |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1284 of 1481 | 142 of 155 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 853 of 1481 | 91 of 155 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1182 of 1481 | 121 of 155 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1215 of 1482 | 140 of 155 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $5,155,040 in government grants in 2025.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 17% | 29% | 20% | 11% | 13% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 10% | 9% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 85% | 93% | 96% | 94% | 90% | 91% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 76% | 77% | 80% | 79% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 88% | 94% | 93% | 89% | 77% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 67% | 73% | 74% | 70% | 65% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 12% | 6% | 7% | 11% | 23% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 10% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 22% | 21% | 19% | 20% | 14% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.52 | 0.24 | 0.25 | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.23 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.73 | 3.71 | 3.56 | 3.45 | 3.46 | 3.42 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.45 | 0.91 | 0.91 | 0.91 | 0.91 | 0.80 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.18 | 7.40 | 8.79 | 8.86 | 8.63 | 11.20 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.99 | 11.46 | 11.73 | 11.76 | 11.71 | 13.73 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 20% | 28% | 29% | 31% | 32% | 31% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 10% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 10% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 296% | 279% | 264% | 260% | 298% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $107,952,547 | $89,391,296 | $122,048,430 | $154,099,339 | $134,707,616 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $79,988,494 | $74,186,193 | $72,062,754 | $73,996,514 | $62,628,202 |
| Short-term investments | $547,834,191 | $569,315,138 | $523,282,503 | $477,943,289 | $505,640,951 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $735,775,232 | $732,892,627 | $717,393,687 | $706,039,142 | $702,976,769 |
| Long-term investments | $951,958,200 | $945,152,049 | $909,930,640 | $935,907,626 | $865,462,049 |
| Fixed assets | $805,063,710 | $653,395,634 | $574,043,745 | $541,744,082 | $524,240,030 |
| Other long-term assets | $239,754,568 | $279,174,572 | $273,462,854 | $262,279,541 | $308,707,085 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,996,776,478 | $1,877,722,255 | $1,757,437,239 | $1,739,931,249 | $1,698,409,164 |
| Total assets | $2,732,551,710 | $2,610,614,882 | $2,474,830,926 | $2,445,970,391 | $2,401,385,933 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $69,581,002 | $54,288,345 | $51,477,405 | $52,698,500 | $40,531,149 |
| Other current liabilities | $29,856,863 | $29,050,325 | $29,535,598 | $29,083,484 | $22,208,201 |
| Total current liabilities | $99,437,865 | $83,338,670 | $81,013,003 | $81,781,984 | $62,739,350 |
| Debt | $57,399,455 | $61,475,073 | $63,960,853 | $70,078,543 | $248,346,692 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $601,891,450 | $611,737,078 | $617,350,181 | $630,081,469 | $422,849,516 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $659,290,905 | $673,212,151 | $681,311,034 | $700,160,012 | $671,196,208 |
| Total liabilities | $758,728,770 | $756,550,821 | $762,324,037 | $781,941,996 | $733,935,558 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,134,110,089 | $1,071,683,429 | $1,008,364,317 | $992,618,697 | $988,419,065 |
| With donor restrictions | $839,712,851 | $782,380,632 | $704,142,572 | $671,409,698 | $679,031,310 |
| Net assets | $1,973,822,940 | $1,854,064,061 | $1,712,506,889 | $1,664,028,395 | $1,667,450,375 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $56,339,649 | $31,484,848 | $44,076,355 | $71,538,193 | $67,242,887 |
| Program service revenue | $553,972,247 | $563,918,646 | $562,162,816 | $551,506,131 | $453,290,634 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $121,647,437 | $92,081,374 | $80,027,524 | $87,167,829 | $200,652,214 |
| Other revenue | $23,157,358 | $17,999,788 | $13,546,440 | $8,868,806 | $3,032,929 |
| Total other revenue | $698,777,042 | $673,999,808 | $655,736,780 | $647,542,766 | $656,975,777 |
| Total revenue | $755,116,691 | $705,484,656 | $699,813,135 | $719,080,959 | $724,218,664 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $507,444,167 | $514,146,442 | $517,829,010 | $505,518,294 | $471,968,400 |
| Management and general | $149,653,822 | $141,615,101 | $122,636,892 | $126,211,836 | $79,052,768 |
| Fundraising | $9,354,583 | $8,973,422 | $8,974,194 | $7,895,782 | $8,551,829 |
| Total expenses | $666,452,572 | $664,734,965 | $649,440,096 | $639,625,912 | $559,572,997 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $88,664,119 | $40,749,691 | $50,373,039 | $79,455,047 | $164,645,667 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $88,664,119 | $40,749,691 | $50,373,039 | $79,455,047 | $164,645,667 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| James Gash | President & CEO | $1,323,005 |
| Jay Brewster | Provost & Chief Academic Officer | $855,535 |
| Phil Phillips | Exec. Vice President | $716,982 |
| Edmund Schilling | Head Coach, Basketball | $579,291 |
| Paul Caron | Dean, Caruso School of Law | $574,487 |
| Sara Young Jackson | Chancellor | $560,065 |
| Kiron Skinner | Professor, School of Public Policy | $527,363 |
| Jeffrey Rohde | Chief Investment Officer | $524,413 |
| Michael Feltner | Dean of College of Health Science | $489,278 |
| Sara Cosentino | VP For Adv & Chief Dev Officer | $480,989 |
| Lorenzo Romar | Head Coach, Basketball | $479,286 |
| Deborah Crown | Dean of Pgbs | $465,831 |
| Greg Ramirez | Chief Financial Officer | $464,238 |
| Nicolle Taylor | Senior Vp, COO | $461,094 |
| Damon Sean Burnett | SVP, Integrated Marketing & CMO | $460,011 |
| Daniel Dewalt | VP & Chief of Staff | $458,169 |
| Larry Perrin | SVP Strategic Implementation | $454,275 |
| Lee Kats | Dean, Seaver From 3/25 | $452,376 |
| Farzin Madjidi | Dean, Gsep | $423,988 |
| Timothy Spivey | VP Spiritual Life | $412,278 |
| Edward Larson | Darling Chair In Law & Prof | $411,749 |
| David Smith | Senior Associate Provost & Professor | $382,816 |
| Connie Horton | VP Student Affairs, Vc Rise | $366,774 |
| Sharon Beard | Interim VP Student Affairs From 7/25 | $331,387 |
| Jeri-Elayne Goosby Smith | VP Comm Belonging & Cdo | $330,495 |
| Michael Nicks | Director of Investments | $325,740 |
| Jonathan See | Chief Information Officer | $323,911 |
| Lila McDowell Carlsen | Vice Provost From 3/25 & Professor | $310,962 |
| Michael Thomas | VP, Integrated Marketing | $308,543 |
| Ben Veenendaal | VP Planning, Ops & Construction | $302,423 |
| Faye Holton | Director of Investments | $293,230 |
| Gary Hanson | Senior EVP Thru 7/24 | $276,801 |
| Katelyn Crowe | Controller Thru 6/25 | $251,242 |
| Rick Gibson | Sv Chancellor Thru 7/24 | $197,630 |
Compensation data as of: 7/31/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 6/27/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
pepperdine.edu/about/our-story/history/