Private · #121 National University

Chapman University

Orange, CA · 7,478 undergraduates

65%
Acceptance rate
1260–1440
SAT middle 50%
28–31
ACT middle 50%
Test-optional
Test policy
82%
Graduation rate
$70,070
Median earnings (10 yr)
✓ Offers merit scholarships

What it may cost by family income

Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $83,146 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.

Household incomeEst. net price / year
Under $30k$33,559
$30k–$48k$33,978
$48k–$75k$33,709
$75k–$110k$40,011
Over $110k$55,066

Sticker cost of attendance: $83,146.

What the whole degree costs

Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.

Household income4 yrs, today's prices4 yrs with increases
Under $30k$134,236$141,449
$30k–$48k$135,912$143,215
$48k–$75k$134,836$142,082
$75k–$110k$160,044$168,644
Over $110k$220,264$232,100

First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Chapman University how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.

Applying to a specific major at Chapman University

65% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.

To find the real figure for your major, check Chapman University's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.

Computer Science Capacity-constrained

At Chapman University: 57 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $69,338 median earnings (Computer Science.)

Applicant demand has grown far faster than faculty and seats, so many universities cap CS enrollment, admit to it directly, or require a competitive internal application after enrolling.

Check: Whether the school admits to CS directly, and whether switching into CS later is restricted — the answer changes your real odds more than your test scores do.

Business Direct admit

At Chapman University: 600 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $50,856 median earnings (Business Administration, Management and Operations.)

Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.

Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.

Visual & Performing Arts Portfolio or audition

At Chapman University: 285 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $37,568 median earnings (Film/Video and Photographic Arts.)

Admission usually turns on an audition or portfolio judged by the department, which can outweigh grades and test scores in either direction.

Check: Audition/portfolio dates and prescreen requirements — many fall well before the regular application deadline.

Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Chapman University in engineering, nursing or architecture, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.

What graduates earn, by major

Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Chapman University, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.

MajorMedian earningsMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations. · Business $50,856 —
Film/Video and Photographic Arts. · Visual & Performing Arts $37,568 —
Psychology, General. · Social Sciences $32,284 —
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. · Visual & Performing Arts $24,035 —
Public Health. · Other Health Professions $36,848 —
Communication and Media Studies. $31,647 —
Business/Corporate Communications. · Business $42,682 —
Political Science and Government. · Social Sciences $38,289 —
Business/Managerial Economics. · Business $52,107 —
Computer Science. · Computer Science $69,338 —
Education, General. $25,774 —
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. $45,767 —

Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.

Is Chapman University a reach, target, or safety for you?

Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.

Model my odds & cost — free

Figures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Chapman University’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.