Chapman University
Orange, California · Private · 7,478 undergraduates · chapman.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
72%
of 14,769 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1255 to 1420
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$98,150Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Chapman University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
72% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$98,150
a year in 2027-28, from a $98,150 sticker price
What to do with your 1350
Send your score
About 79% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1210, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: First-Year Application | Chapman University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Nov15Other deadline · November 15, 2026
- Jan15Early Decision II · January 15, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
72%
of applicants were admitted: 10,642 of 14,769 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 12/20.
Early Decision
Binding. 51% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
1,726 students were offered a spot; 246 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 16% of them sent SAT scores and 6% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1255 to 1420
Reading and Writing 640 to 720
Math 590 to 710
ACT composite 28 to 32
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160035%
- 1200 to 139947%
- 1000 to 119914%
- 800 to 9994.4%
- 600 to 7990.4%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$98,150
a year
- Tuition$72,790
- Fees$420
- Food and housing$19,660
- Books and supplies$1,660
- Transportation and other$3,620
Chapman University published $94,376 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $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
Financial aid
83%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$26,718
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
22%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $24,476 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 3/2
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Merit Scholarship
$42,000 a year
Competitive · No separate application
Deadline: Admission application deadline. To keep it: a 2.75 college GPA, and stay a full-time student; it renews for up to 8 full-time semesters.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
39 of 39
Earn credit with a score of 3
9 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,280Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART-100TR |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART-100TR |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | HIST-228 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | AH-200 |
| Art History | 5 | 6 | AH-200, AH-201 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL-204 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | MATH-110 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 3 | MATH 110 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 6 | MATH 110, MATH 111 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM-140, 140L |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | CHIN-101 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | CHIN 101, CHIN 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | CHIN 102, CHIN 201 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POSC-130 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CPSC 230 |
| Computer Science Principles | 5 | 3 | CPSC 230 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART-100TR |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENG-103 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENG-100TRLIT |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | ENV-101 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST-110 |
| European History | 5 | 6 | HIST-110, HIST-112 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FREN-101 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN-101, FREN-102 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | FREN-102, FREN-201 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GER-101 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GER-101, GER-102 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | GER-102, GER-201 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | SS-100TR |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | ITAL-101 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | ITAL-101, ITAL-102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | ITAL-102, ITAL-201 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | JPN-101 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | JPN-101, JPN-102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | JPN-102, JPN-201 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LAT-101 |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | LAT-101, LAT-102 |
| Latin | 5 | 6 | LAT-102, LAT-201 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON-201 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON-200 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | MUS-100TR |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS-100TR |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS-100TR |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 102, PHYS 102L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 101, PHYS 101L |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY-101 |
| Research | 4 | 3 | TRAN-100TR |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | TRAN-100TR |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN-101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN-101, SPAN 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN-102, SPAN 201 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN-202 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | MATH-203 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POSC-110 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST-101 |
| United States History | 5 | 6 | HIST-101, HIST-103 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIST-201 |
| World History: Modern | 5 | 6 | HIST-201, HIST-202 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
83%
Come back for a second year
92%
Typical earnings
$80,694
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Chapman University$95,150
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 24 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Chapman University. The Chapman University logo is a trademark of the college.