All schools
PrivateUrban

Chapman University

Orange, California 92866

Visit website

Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Business-focusedUrban

Strong graduate outcomes — known for business

Chapman University is a private urban institution in Orange, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1353.

A mid-sized campus of 7.6K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

80% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $70,070 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $47,527.

Established
1861
Motto
ὀ Χριστòς καì ἡ Ἐκκλησíα
Mascot
Pete the Panther
Type
Private research university
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

56%Acceptance
1353SAT Avg
7,629Students
12:1Student:Faculty
80%Grad Rate
$70,070Earnings 10yr
$47,527Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate55.6%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1353

Reading & WritingMid: 655
630710
MathMid: 655
620720

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 29
2832

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$62,784
Room & Board$17,378
Books & Supplies$1,600
Total Cost of Attendance$81,327
Average Net Price$47,527
Median Debt at Graduation$20,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$217

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$37,985
$30–48K$40,713
$48–75K$39,414
$75–110K$42,194
$110K+$54,519

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

38.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.3%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$17,750

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

57

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

15

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

5

Motor Vehicle Theft

6

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

15

Drug Arrests

11

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (109)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

90%

Positive

Student Body

Undergrads
7,629
Gender Split
61% / 39%
Women / Men
First Generation
18%
Pell Grant Recipients
20%

Race & Ethnicity

White 48%
Black 2%
Hispanic 19%
Asian 16%
Two+ 9%
Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate80.4%
Freshman Retention90.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$58,080
10 Years$70,070

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#110
vs 2024
Forbes
#200
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#356
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

College worldBaseball

History & Fun Facts

  • Its opening was timed to coincide with the hour of Abraham Lincoln's first inauguration.
  • Throughout its first decades, the school was renamed and relocated several times.
  • In 1896, Hesperian merged with Pierce Christian College to form the Berkeley Bible Seminary in Berkeley, California.
  • The college was subsequently moved to San Francisco as the California Bible College.
  • In 1920, the school was acquired by California Christian College, and moved to southern California, becoming the California School of Christianity, in Los Angeles.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

153Very High

Estimated from CA state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 0"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

Los Angelespop. 3.9M
29 mi(50 min)
San Diegopop. 1.4M
84 mi(146 min)
Phoenixpop. 1.6M
333 mi(577 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

LAX Los Angeles34 mi
SAN San Diego83 mi
LAS Las Vegas220 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2579 mi · ~74h 30m drive
New York, NY2432 mi · ~70h 15m drive
Hartford, CT2498 mi · ~72h 10m drive
Providence, RI2563 mi · ~74h 3m drive
Albany, NY2441 mi · ~70h 31m drive
Syracuse, NY2320 mi · ~67h 1m drive
Rochester, NY2247 mi · ~64h 55m drive
Buffalo, NY2182 mi · ~63h 2m drive
Philadelphia, PA2375 mi · ~68h 37m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2119 mi · ~61h 13m drive
Harrisburg, PA2283 mi · ~65h 57m drive
Newark, NJ2424 mi · ~70h 2m drive
Washington, DC2280 mi · ~65h 52m drive
Baltimore, MD2300 mi · ~66h 27m drive
Atlanta, GA1913 mi · ~55h 16m drive
Charlotte, NC2097 mi · ~60h 35m drive
Raleigh, NC2215 mi · ~63h 59m drive
Miami, FL2312 mi · ~66h 47m drive
Orlando, FL2175 mi · ~62h 50m drive
Tampa, FL2127 mi · ~61h 27m drive
Nashville, TN1759 mi · ~50h 49m drive
New Orleans, LA1646 mi · ~47h 33m drive
Richmond, VA2266 mi · ~65h 28m drive
Chicago, IL1731 mi · ~50h drive
Detroit, MI1968 mi · ~56h 51m drive
Minneapolis, MN1515 mi · ~43h 46m drive
St. Louis, MO1571 mi · ~45h 23m drive
Kansas City, MO1340 mi · ~38h 43m drive
Indianapolis, IN1792 mi · ~51h 46m drive
Columbus, OH1960 mi · ~56h 37m drive
Cleveland, OH2032 mi · ~58h 42m drive
Milwaukee, WI1731 mi · ~50h drive
Dallas, TX1216 mi · ~35h 8m drive
Houston, TX1347 mi · ~38h 55m drive
Austin, TX1201 mi · ~34h 42m drive
San Antonio, TX1176 mi · ~33h 58m drive
Los Angeles, CA29 mi · ~50 min drive
San Francisco, CA376 mi · ~10h 52m drive
San Diego, CA84 mi · ~2h 26m drive
Seattle, WA982 mi · ~28h 22m drive
Portland, OR849 mi · ~24h 32m drive
Denver, CO821 mi · ~23h 43m drive
Phoenix, AZ333 mi · ~9h 37m drive
Salt Lake City, UT582 mi · ~16h 49m drive
Honolulu, HI2579 mi · ~74h 30m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Deadline Calendar

Chapman University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications