Chapman University acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Chapman University · Private nonprofit · Orange, CA · 7,874 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Chapman University admitted 55.6% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 44.7% in 2013. Tuition and fees are $67,894 for every student in 2025-26.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
Show as table
| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 44.7% | 11,750 | 5,253 |
| 2014 | 47.0% | 12,507 | 5,883 |
| 2015 | 47.6% | 13,670 | 6,504 |
| 2016 | 54.0% | 12,821 | 6,927 |
| 2017 | 57.2% | 13,170 | 7,539 |
| 2018 | 53.6% | 14,198 | 7,605 |
| 2019 | 55.7% | 14,273 | 7,943 |
| 2020 | 58.3% | 14,252 | 8,303 |
| 2021 | 60.4% | 15,098 | 9,115 |
| 2022 | 72.5% | 13,690 | 9,928 |
| 2023 | 55.6% | 15,914 | 8,849 |
Applications went from 11,750 in fall 2013 to 15,914 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $34,494 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $30,442 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $31,307 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $41,191 |
| Over $110,000 | $55,261 |
| Tuition and fees, all students (2025-26) | $67,894 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $85,323 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $46,708 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 16% submitted the SAT, 8% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar private colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of San Francisco CA | 50.8% | $62,462 same for all |
| University of San Diego CA | 46.7% | $62,420 same for all |
| Santa Clara University CA | 43.8% | $63,513 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Chapman University drew 15,914 applications for fall 2023 and admitted 55.6%.1 In 2013 it admitted 44.7%, so the rate is up 10.9 percentage points over the span.1 A peak of 72.5% came in 2022, and the rate declined in just 2 of the 10 yearly comparisons.1 Applications rose 35%, from 11,750 to 15,914, while admitted students rose 68%, from 5,253 to 8,849.1
The college is test-optional for fall 2023. Scores reported by enrolled students had a middle 50% of 630 to 710 on SAT reading and writing, 620 to 720 on SAT math, and 28 to 32 on the ACT.1
Every student pays $67,894 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, while the median for 76 private colleges in California is $43,094.2 In 2024-25 the average net price was $34,494 for families earning $0 to $30,000, $31,307 for $48,001 to $75,000, and $55,261 for incomes over $110,000.2
83% of the 2019 entrants graduated within 6 years, above the 60% median of 123 California colleges.2 Retention was 92%, with 24% of undergraduates receiving Pell grants.2 Graduates have median earnings of $80,694 at 10 years after entry, and borrowers have a median federal debt of $19,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 15,914 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 8,849 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 1,806 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 7,874 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 630 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 710 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 620 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 720 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 28 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 32 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 16% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 8% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, all students | $67,894 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $85,323 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $46,708 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $34,494 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $30,442 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $31,307 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $41,191 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $55,261 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 83% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 92% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 24% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $80,694 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median tuition and fees, private nonprofit colleges, California (N = 76) | $43,094 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, private nonprofit bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, California (N = 123) | 60% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Chapman University, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page