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Chapman University
Most applicants get into Chapman University — 65.4% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Chapman University sits in Orange proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $112,780 four years out. Faculty pay averages $163,332 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 7,478 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 91.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1250 and 1430 — near the CA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Chapman University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Chapman University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1250–1430 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Chapman University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 630 | 670 | 710 |
| SAT Math | 620 | 670 | 720 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Chapman University received 15,914 applications and admitted 8,849 (55.6%), with 1,806 enrolling.
How Chapman University compares
| Chapman University | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 65.4% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $64,984 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $70,070 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Chapman University student earns $70,070 — 8% above the California median of $64,778 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Chapman University lists tuition at $64,984 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Chapman University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $64,984 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Chapman University enrolls 7,478 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Chapman University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
81.9% of Chapman University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 27 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $64,984 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Chapman University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $112,780 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $102,147 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $84,978 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $84,378 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $80,139 |
| Journalism | $79,135 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $78,121 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $76,412 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $75,108 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $73,461 |
| Public Health | $72,529 |
| Political Science and Government | $68,856 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $66,494 |
| Education, General | $64,917 |
| Biology, General | $64,461 |
| Psychology, General | $63,617 |
| Sociology | $62,047 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $58,055 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $51,611 |
| Dance | $50,612 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $44,183 |
| Music | $41,698 |
Median earnings for these 22 Chapman University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $70,070 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 34 additional Chapman University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Chapman University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1250–1430 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 65.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Chapman University's acceptance rate?
55.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,849 admitted from 15,914 applicants.
How much does Chapman University cost?
At Chapman University, published tuition is $64,984 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Chapman University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Chapman University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $70,070 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- Concordia University-Irvine — 66% admitted
- University of California-Santa Cruz — 65.8% admitted
- University of California-Riverside — 76.4% admitted
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — 75.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.