Pepperdine University Parents & Families Guide

A campus on the coast, not in a college town

Pepperdine's Malibu campus is at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, and Housing's packing list calls it hilly, so pack good walking shoes. You arrive either along the coast on Pacific Coast Highway or inland via Malibu Canyon Road, then stop at an entrance booth for a visitor pass before heading up to the academic buildings.

Campus shuttles run within the grounds, but errands take a car. The parent office's list of practical stops puts the nearest Ralphs and CVS in Malibu Colony Plaza, south of campus, while Costco in Agoura Hills and the closest Target are about 15 and 17 miles away.

Flying in

LAX is the airport Pepperdine's own driving directions start from. The university lists it as 25 miles away and 45 minutes to an hour by car. Hollywood Burbank (BUR) also comes up on the parent transportation page, where one listed shuttle company advertises Burbank runs.

Semesters and the big weekends

Seaver College, Pepperdine's undergraduate school, runs on semesters. Fall 2026 spans August 24 to December 18, and spring 2027 spans January 11 to May 1. There is a four day Fall Break in mid October, the whole week of Thanksgiving off, and spring break the first week of March. Seaver's commencement ceremony is Saturday, May 1, 2027.

Waves Weekend brings students, families and alumni to campus on the same weekend. In 2026 it runs October 9 to 11, one week before Fall Break, with a carnival style Madness Village (Ferris wheel and food trucks included) and a Family and Alumni picnic.

Where students live

Every new Seaver student lives on campus with a meal plan for the first two years. Housing's living areas include Towers Residence Hall, Seaside Hall, Lovernich Apartments, Drescher W Block, the Drescher campus apartments and George Page Apartments. Housing's packing list notes the halls are not air conditioned, Drescher W excepted, so a fan earns a spot in the car.

The office for families

Parent and Family Programs, directed by Cindy Campbell (310.506.6826), organizes Parents in Prayer, a parents book club, hiking outings and volunteer roles for Waves families.

What is in this hub

The other pages here cover the full 2026 to 27 date list, airports and hotels around Malibu and Calabasas, move in and move out, and health, safety and mail on campus.