Which is better for study abroad, Pepperdine or Boston University?

The biggest tradeoff is depth versus flexibility. Pepperdine builds study abroad into the identity of the school with its own international campuses in places like Florence, London, Heidelberg, Lausanne, Buenos Aires, and Washington, DC, so the experience often feels tightly integrated with the university. Boston University, on the other hand, offers a very large and varied set of global programs with strong academic options across many majors, which can make it easier to find something specialized.

If study abroad is your top priority in the sense of wanting a signature, immersive experience that is central to campus culture, Pepperdine has a real edge. A lot of students know Pepperdine specifically for spending a semester at one of its overseas campuses, and those programs are designed to feel cohesive rather than like an add-on. That can make the process more straightforward, especially if you want a traditional semester abroad with a close-knit group and housing tied to the program.

BU stands out more for scale and academic breadth. Because BU has so many program formats, locations, and subject-specific options, it can be especially appealing if you want study abroad to connect closely to a particular field, internship, language study, or research interest. For some students, that wider menu matters more than having a single signature model.

Another practical point is timing and fit with your major. Pepperdine’s own campuses can make planning feel simpler, but BU may give you more ways to study abroad without disrupting a complex academic path. That is especially important in majors with tighter sequencing.

So if the question is which school is more defined by the study abroad experience itself, I’d lean Pepperdine. If the question is which gives you the broader set of international options and more customization, Boston University may come out ahead. For the stronger overall study abroad identity and student experience, Pepperdine is the one I would pick.