Pepperdine University AI Policy for College Applications
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Pepperdine University?
Pepperdine University has no explicit AI policy for admissions essays. While not explicitly prohibited, the lack of clear guidance means students should be cautious.
Disclosure: Pepperdine University does not require disclosure of AI use in admissions materials.
Enforcement: Pepperdine University has not indicated how they check for AI use in admissions essays.
Last verified: 2026-02-17 (no change from 2025-09-19) • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on Pepperdine admissions website or any school-level admissions pages.”
— First-Year Applicants | Pepperdine University | Seaver College(Verified: Feb 2026)
“Best practice is to disclose when generative artificial intelligence has been used to create content.”
— Artificial Intelligence at Pepperdine University | IT | Pepperdine Community(Updated: 2025)
Sources Verified
All sources checked (14)
Policy Sources:
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/admission/application/undergraduate/faq/
- https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/admission/application/undergraduate/firstyear.htm
- https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/blog/posts/writing-college-essay.htm
- https://community.pepperdine.edu/it/ai/
- https://community.pepperdine.edu/it/ai/position-statement.htm
- https://www.pepperdine.edu/admission/
- https://law.pepperdine.edu/admissions/juris-doctor/application-requirements.htm
- https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/admission/requirements/application-guide.htm
- https://gsep.pepperdine.edu/doctorate-clinical-psychology/admission-requirements/
- https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/academic-support/integrity/policies/code.htm
- https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/academic-support/integrity/policies/violations.htm
- https://courses.pepperdine.edu/access/content/user/cheard/Twine/Generative_AI_Syllabus_Statement.html
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
Additional Context
Pepperdine has no explicit AI policy for admissions essays at any level (undergraduate, graduate, law, business, education). The university IT page recommends AI disclosure as a 'best practice' for academic and business work, but this guidance is not tied to admissions. The Seaver College blog emphasizes authenticity and honest self-presentation in essays but does not mention AI. Faculty-level AI syllabus statements are course-specific and do not apply to admissions. The academic integrity code does not reference AI or admissions materials. Classified as L0/D0/E0 due to silence on AI in admissions context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pepperdine University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Pepperdine University?
How does Pepperdine University check for AI?
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