Pepperdine has a significantly religious environment (Disciples of Christ). Is that what you prefer, or consider acceptable?
You may want to add UCSC, UCI, and UCSD to your UC application (if their net price calculators indicate affordability), since they all have economics majors suitable for pre-PhD preparation (i.e. with more math).
If you UC-weighted GPA is in the top 9% of historical UC-weighted GPAs at your high school, you may get an admission offer to UC Merced if you do not get into any other UCs that you apply to.