Chapman University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Orange, California. It enrolls 7,478 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes89
Value6
Affordability9
Selectivity77
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 65.4%, Chapman University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
65.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1260 – 1440
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Chapman University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Chapman University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $46,555 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$46,555
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
60%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$64,984
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,814
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,614
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,332
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,082
Total Cost of Attendance
$83,146
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$33,559
$30,001 – $48,000
$33,978
$48,001 – $75,000
$33,709
$75,001 – $110,000
$40,011
Over $110,000
$55,066
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$10,00025%percentile
$20,500Medianpercentile
$26,84875%percentile
$30,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,168
↓ $1,332
No Pell $15,976
↓ $4,524
Dependent students $17,589
↓ $2,911
Independent students $23,000
↑ $2,500
Female students $18,000
↓ $2,500
Male students $17,500
↓ $3,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($20,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
74% of full-time students who enrolled at Chapman University graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
74%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
91%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Chapman University earn a median of $70,070 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$70,070
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$52,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,800, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Chapman University is home to 7,478 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,478
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 46.9%3,506
Hispanic 19.9%1,486
Asian 16.3%1,216
Other 9.3%696
International 2.9%218
Black 2.2%167
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Chapman University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityOrange, California
Housing
Mostly residential3,714 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Chapman University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
85 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Chapman University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.6B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$119,171
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
586 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
172
29%
$163,530
Associate Professors
158
27%
$114,422
Assistant Professors
226
39%
$93,580
Instructors
26
4%
$77,291
No Rank
4
1%
$122,770
Pros & Cons of Chapman University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Chapman University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Chapman University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chapman University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Chapman University.
Is Chapman University hard to get into?
Admissions at Chapman University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 65.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Chapman University?
Chapman University has an acceptance rate of 65.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Chapman University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Chapman University scored between 1260 and 1440 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Chapman University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Chapman University scored between 28 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Chapman University cost?
The average net price after aid at Chapman University is $46,555 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Chapman University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,070 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $46,555 per year. That's roughly 1.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Chapman University known for?
Chapman University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Film & Video Production, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Chapman University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Chapman University are $70,070, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Chapman University accredited?
Yes. Chapman University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Chapman University?
Chapman University enrolls 7,478 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Chapman University?
Chapman University graduates 74% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Chapman University a public or private college?
Chapman University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Chapman University located?
Chapman University is located in Orange, California.
What programs does Chapman University offer?
Chapman University offers 85 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Film & Video Production, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Chapman University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Chapman University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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