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Chapman University

Orange, California · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$46,555What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
65%
Graduation rate
81%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
7,478
In-state tuition
$64,984Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$64,984
SAT midpoint
1,310
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$70,070Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$46,555

Better than 2% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

81%

Better than 89% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$70,070

Better than 82% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$20,500

Better than 80% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$83,146

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$46,555

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Chapman University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time81%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return92%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$20,500
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$70,070

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Chapman University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Accounting and Related Services$70,36248
Computer Science$67,12557
Business Administration, Management and Operations$55,657444
Business/Managerial Economics$54,06458
Design and Applied Arts$46,51926
Communication and Media Studies$44,60198
Journalism$41,64534
English Language and Literature, General$40,86119
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$40,14150
Business/Corporate Communications$39,90198
Sociology$39,27834
Education, General$37,92856
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$36,5468
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$35,795180
Political Science and Government$35,12476
Psychology, General$28,661171
Public Health$25,007103
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$24,644105
Biology, General$24,44347
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$23,93937
Dance$21,27533
Music$14,53821
Graphic CommunicationsNot reported45
Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesNot reported23
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported20
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported19
PhilosophyNot reported18
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported17
HistoryNot reported16
Computational ScienceNot reported14
Computer EngineeringNot reported13
Peace Studies and Conflict ResolutionNot reported12
ChemistryNot reported11
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported7
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported4
PhysicsNot reported4
MathematicsNot reported4
AnthropologyNot reported3
Area StudiesNot reported3
Social WorkNot reported3
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansNot reported2
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported2
Cognitive ScienceNot reported2
Nutrition SciencesNot reported1
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reported1
Public AdministrationNot reported1
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported1
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported1
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyNot reported1
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Holocaust and Related StudiesNot reportedNot reported
PublishingNot reportedNot reported
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyNot reportedNot reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reportedNot reported

All 56 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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