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Chapman University

#420 in US ranking Orange, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Chapman University award
Chapman University award

Cost

Cost / year
$85,323
Tuition & fees
$67,894
Avg. aid
$31,523
Receiving aid
90%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
65%
SAT range
1260–1440
ACT range
28–31

Outcomes

Graduation rate
82%
Median salary
$47,798
1 yr after graduation

What does Chapman University offer in terms of athletics?

Chapman competes in NCAA Division III varsity athletics as a member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Representative varsity sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming and diving, volleyball, and water polo.

Varsity teams involve recruiting, eligibility rules, and scheduled competition. Club sports, intramurals, and fitness activities offer different levels of commitment and are not interchangeable with NCAA teams; a sport appearing in a broad campus activities list should not automatically be assumed to have varsity status. Division III institutions do not award athletic scholarships based on playing ability, although students may qualify for other forms of aid.

What student groups and Associations are available at Chapman University?

Chapman students can participate in recognized organizations spanning academic interests, culture, service, the arts, recreation, and Greek life. The Student Government Association provides an avenue for elected student representation.

Student media and performing groups offer additional ways to take part. Chapman has a student-run newspaper, The Panther, as well as student radio, theater activity, and choral groups. Because organizations can change leadership or activity from year to year, a current student-organization directory is more useful than an older club list when choosing where to get involved.

Who studies at Chapman University?

Chapman enrolled 9,760 students in the reported institutional count, making it a university with both undergraduate and graduate study. A reported incoming first-time undergraduate group numbered 1,631, while 293 students entered as transfers.

Among that first-time group, 996 students were California residents and 576 came from other U.S. states; 59 came from outside the United States. Those figures describe new students, not the geographic makeup of everyone on campus.

The broader student population is concentrated in traditional college-age ranges, although students in their late twenties and older also attend. Reported racial and ethnic counts include White, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Black or African American, and multiracial students, among others. Such categories describe enrollment; they do not, on their own, explain an individual student's experience or sense of belonging.

How does student life look like at Chapman University?

Daily life at Chapman combines a residential main campus with a sizable commuting population. Reported figures indicate that about 52% of students live on campus and about 47% commute, so class schedules, evening events, and travel time may shape how students participate.

Orientation and student programming create opportunities to meet peers outside class, while campus recreation provides options beyond organized sports. Chapman also reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling services. Those resources serve different purposes: medical care, counseling, academic advising, and career support should not be treated as a single office or a substitute for one another.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. That institution-wide measure does not indicate the size of every lecture, seminar, laboratory, or production course; students comparing majors should look at the classes and facilities their own program uses.

What libraries are available to students at Chapman University?

Leatherby Libraries is Chapman's main academic library complex, offering study space and access to research materials for coursework and independent projects. The university also has specialized library resources associated with its law school.

Students can use library research guidance, online journals and databases, and reservable study rooms. Digital access is particularly useful when working away from campus, while specialized collections and research assistance can support more advanced assignments. Reported library information does not indicate a continuously open 24-hour study area, so students who need late-night space should check current building and service hours separately.

Chapman University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

9760

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

1721

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

596 full time, 633 part time

Veterans affair office

Yes

Chapman University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 7,713
Graduate: 2,047

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 8,899
Part-time: 861

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 1,099
Men: 622

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 1,599
Black or African American: 182
White: 3,399
American Indian or Alaska Native: 7
Asian: 1,111
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 14
Two or more races: 657
Unknown: 197

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

Chapman University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men––

Basketball

BothBoth–

Cheerleading

Women––

Cross-country running

Both––

Football

Men––

Golf

Both––

Lacrosse

Both––

Soccer

BothBoth–

Softball

Women––

Swimming and diving

Both––

Tennis

Both––

Track and field

Both––

Volleyball

BothBoth–

Water polo

Both––

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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