Pepperdine vs UC Santa Cruz for economics: which is better for an undergrad degree?

The biggest practical tradeoff is this: UC Santa Cruz will usually give you a broader public-university economics environment with more research depth and lower cost if you are in-state, while Pepperdine offers smaller classes, more structure, and closer day-to-day proximity to the Los Angeles business market. For economics specifically, UCSC tends to have the stronger academic reputation in the discipline itself, especially if you may want graduate school or more quantitative training. Pepperdine can be very attractive if you learn best with more faculty attention and want easier access to internships during the school year in the LA area.

For internships, Pepperdine has a real advantage in logistics. Malibu is not central LA, but it is still much closer to major finance, consulting, media-business, and corporate opportunities than Santa Cruz is to San Francisco on a regular weekly basis. At UCSC, students can absolutely reach Bay Area opportunities, but it often takes more planning, travel, and initiative, especially during the academic year.

If the question is which school is the stronger undergraduate economics choice in the abstract, I would lean UC Santa Cruz. If cost is comparable and you want the more academically respected economics program, that is the safer pick. Pepperdine becomes more compelling if you strongly value small classes, closer access to LA internships, and the kind of campus environment where personal attention will help you perform at your best.