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Pepperdine | Graziadio Business School
DBA students listening to course lecture

Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program

Earn a Doctorate. Change the World.

Elevate your expertise and chart new grounds with a global community of practitioner-scholars in Pepperdine Graziadio’s Executive Doctor of Business Administration (EDBA) program.

Advance your leadership and experience competencies to conduct research and share your insights through thought leadership, publishing, and effective action.

Under the guidance of our expert faculty, leverage contemporary theories, advanced analytical methods, and your executive experience to develop new evidence-based insights for improving and shaping the future of business and the world.

  • Award-winning Malibu campus
  • High-Impact Research Focus
  • Executive Peer Cohort 
  • Annual Executive DBA Conference
  • Vast Global Alumni Network

Quick Facts

Format: Hybrid
Start (terms): Fall
Location:  Malibu
Length: 3 Years

Program Highlights

 

 

Top-Ranked

#4 World's Best Universities For Doctor of Business Administration (CEO World)

 

Award-Winning Malibu Campus

Study while enjoying on-campus housing on our top-rated Malibu campus overlooking scenic beaches and the Pacific Ocean.

 

Accomplished Executive Cohort

Join a diverse cohort of successful executives from various backgrounds and industries. Exchange diverse ideas and perspectives through intimate, collaborative class sessions, fostering close bonds with peers and faculty mentors.

 

One-on-One Faculty Mentor

Our faculty mentors, esteemed global experts, offer personalized guidance to nurture your research. With vast industry experience and academic excellence, they ensure a top-tier doctoral education. Receive tailored support and feedback to strengthen your position as a Practitioner Scholar.

 

Values-Centered Education

The Executive DBA program blends academic excellence and Christian values, instilling sustainable business principles. Prepare to lead organizations with purpose and drive positive impact in business, society, and the world.

 

 

Experience-Driven

Our approach to doctoral-level business education focuses on equipping you to apply established theories and scientific research methods and leverage your executive experience to study real-world business and management problems and identify new insights that will transform business and management practice.

 

Take the Next Step

Reach out to us to learn more about the Graziadio Business School.

Get in Touch

Fill out the Request Information form to learn about the opportunities that await you as a student at Pepperdine Graziadio.

Attend an Event

Learn more about your program by signing up for a class visit, information session, webinar or graduate fair.

Start Your Application

Ready to start your journey to Pepperdine Graziadio? Begin your application today to take the next step towards your future.

 

Executive DBA Admission

Program Deadlines 

 

Feb
3

Fall 2025: Priority Deadline

Apr
14

Fall 2025: Regular Deadline

May
28

Fall 2025: Final Deadline (International Students Only)

Jul
1

Fall 2025: Final Deadline (Domestic Students Only)

 

 

Candidates must submit the following materials to be considered for admission to the DBA program: 

Phase I

  • Personal Statement/Essay 
  • Resume
  • Research topic proposal (one-page essay)
  • Intellectual contributions*
  • Online application
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Graduate degree from an accredited institution**

Phase 2
Select candidates are invited to complete Phase 2 of the application process.

  • Official transcripts
  • TOEFL, PTE, IELTS Score, if applicable
  • Time management plan
  • Interview
  • Expanded Research Proposal (5 pages)
  • Optional: Recommendation letters

*Intellectual contributions are optional for the Executive DBA program.
**A graduate-level degree, preferably in a business or STEM-related field.

For further admission information, please visit our main admissions website.

 

Pepperdine Graziadio is dedicated to providing our students with funding solutions and options to help them reach their educational goals. Through our Office of Financial Aid, we offer an array of financing options including: 

  • Federal loans***
  • Private student loans
  • Endowed scholarships
  • Referral scholarship

Our dedicated advisors are available to provide personalized guidance to best meet the various needs and circumstances of our students. For more information about financing your degree, schedule a consultation today. 

***Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

  Application Requirements

 

Candidates must submit the following materials to be considered for admission to the DBA program: 

Phase I

  • Personal Statement/Essay 
  • Resume
  • Research topic proposal (one-page essay)
  • Intellectual contributions*
  • Online application
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Graduate degree from an accredited institution**

Phase 2
Select candidates are invited to complete Phase 2 of the application process.

  • Official transcripts
  • TOEFL, PTE, IELTS Score, if applicable
  • Time management plan
  • Interview
  • Expanded Research Proposal (5 pages)
  • Optional: Recommendation letters

*Intellectual contributions are optional for the Executive DBA program.
**A graduate-level degree, preferably in a business or STEM-related field.

For further admission information, please visit our main admissions website.

 

  Financial Aid and Scholarships

Pepperdine Graziadio is dedicated to providing our students with funding solutions and options to help them reach their educational goals. Through our Office of Financial Aid, we offer an array of financing options including: 

  • Federal loans***
  • Private student loans
  • Endowed scholarships
  • Referral scholarship

Our dedicated advisors are available to provide personalized guidance to best meet the various needs and circumstances of our students. For more information about financing your degree, schedule a consultation today. 

***Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

 

 

Networks You Can Explore

Professional association logos

Professional associations various logos

 


 

Fall 2024 Student Profile

 

 

Computer/Internet

 

Aerospace

 

Consulting/Business Services

 

Education/Nonprofit

 

Healthcare

 
30-59

Age Range

32%

Female

68%

Male

22

Average Years Work Experience

 

What Our Students Are Saying

Learn how DBA candidate, Ana M. Brant, uses her Executive Doctor of Business Administration program to create new knowledge she directly applies to her role as global director of guest experience and innovation for Dorchester Collection.

What Our Alumni Are Saying

 

Sharifa Batts

"The DBA program expanded my knowledge on both boards and diversity and has impacted my life both professionally and personally."

Dr. Sharita Batts | MBA '18, DBA '22
EVP, ESG & Safety of Ports America

Alfonso Berumen

""During the DBA program, I was exposed to methodologies and best practices that can be applied to academic and practitioner settings. Certainly, this has bolstered my credibility as a consultant"

Dr. Alfonso Berumen | DBA '20
Owner, Los Angeles Data Analytics, LLC

Gil Keinan

"Everybody has an interest in solving world problems, but those who are excited about creating thought leadership in the business world would find great benefit in pursuing a DBA"

Dr. Gil Keinan | MBA, '10, OBA '21
Founder and Principal, H I Obsequio

Ana Brant

"The highlights of the DBA program are the sense of community and relationships created during the program, both as a cohort and as a researcher"

Dr. Ana Brant | DBA '22
Director, Global Guest Experience and Innovation, London based Dorchester Collection


 

Executive Student Experience


Students learning oustide at a table together

Values-Based, Personalized Learning

The Executives DBA at Pepperdine Graziadio offers an intimate cohort of top executives led by our renowned faculty who are personally committed to your academic and professional success. With ethical, sustainable business woven into the core of our teachings and an emphasis on experiential learning, you'll experience a truly unique, transformational graduate degree within a global community of purpose-driven leaders.


Three students walking outside campus

Dedicated Executive Mentor

Highly dedicated and accessible faculty mentors who are global experts in their fields will provide personalized advice and mentoring to develop your research. 


Two students walking outside campus

 

Speak with Our Alumni

Alumni from the Executive DBA program are always happy to speak with prospective students. Whether you have questions about schedule, their experience or how it benefited their career, we’re happy to connect you with alumni of our program.

Please reach out directly to Wan Song, Executive Advisor, at wan.song@pepperdine.edu or 310.568.5634.


US Flags on Malibu campus

Veteran and Military Support

Pepperdine has served veterans and their family members for over 75 years and is proud to support nearly 500 enrolled veterans, service members, and dependents.

As an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, we proudly offer tuition support to Yellow Ribbon-eligible students. Pepperdine invests almost $3M annually to help cover 100% of tuition costs for eligible students.

Under the Yellow Ribbon program, Pepperdine in the VA matches all remaining tuition costs. Pepperdine also does not limit the number of eligible students who can utilize the Yellow Ribbon program.

 


two students in class

Center for Women in Leadership

Pepperdine Graziadio Business School is deeply committed to empowering women in business, who comprise over 50% of our student body

Through initiatives such as Pepperdine's Center for Women in Leadership, the Graziadio Women's Business Association, and customized mentorship programs, we strive to cultivate a nurturing environment for all our students. 

 

Enroll in a Top Ranked Business School

Recognized in renowned business school rankings, including CEO Magazine's Global DBA Listing and the Executive DBA Council, the Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree is an AACSB-accredited, academically rigorous program designed specifically for accomplished executives who would like to deepen their professional knowledge through applied research. Experienced executives enrolled in the program immerse themselves in a learning community conducive to identifying research-based insights that address some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities we face in business today.

Our DBA requires only six residential sessions over the first two years, with your third year dedicated to conducting your dissertation research study, and writing your doctoral dissertation in the format of a research monograph or two publishable articles.

 

Princeton Review Ranking Logo

CEO Magazine Premier DBA Programme

Contact Us

Wan Song

Wan Song
Executive Advisor 

310.568.5634
Meet with Wan
Email Wan

Take the Next Step

Learn more about Pepperdine's Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program