Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Chapman University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 29% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 75th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Chapman University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $67,125 | $112,780 | +5% | #103 of 349 | #157 | $21,809 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $70,362 | $102,147 | +34% | #44 of 796 | #99 | $20,875 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $54,064 | $84,978 | +9% | #24 of 84 | #51 | $22,977 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,657 | $84,378 | +24% | #84 of 1176 | #195 | $19,625 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $40,141 | $80,139 | +26% | #11 of 178 | #35 | $22,250 |
| Journalism | $41,645 | $79,135 | +41% | #5 of 187 | #9 | $22,290 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $46,519 | $78,121 | +52% | #9 of 299 | #21 | $23,823 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $39,901 | $76,412 | +16% | #2 of 25 | #5 | $17,875 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | $75,108 | +38% | #13 of 610 | #46 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,601 | $73,461 | +30% | #29 of 660 | #54 | $18,777 |
| Public Health | $25,007 | $72,529 | +23% | #21 of 215 | #52 | $23,125 |
| Political Science and Government | $35,124 | $68,856 | +9% | #141 of 565 | #237 | $20,500 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $35,795 | $66,494 | +52% | #3 of 144 | #3 | $18,500 |
| Education | $37,928 | $64,917 | +30% | #9 of 71 | #11 | $21,500 |
| Biology | $24,443 | $64,461 | +13% | #205 of 841 | #407 | $20,500 |
| Psychology | $28,661 | $63,617 | +25% | #52 of 1027 | #127 | $20,500 |
| Sociology | $39,278 | $62,047 | +18% | #62 of 462 | #116 | $20,000 |
| English Language and Literature | $40,861 | $58,055 | +19% | #81 of 576 | #138 | $22,875 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $24,644 | $51,611 | +30% | #11 of 255 | #32 | $22,500 |
| Dance | $21,275 | $50,612 | +27% | #9 of 58 | #14 | $23,624 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $23,939 | $44,183 | -9% | #81 of 137 | #111 | — |
| Music | $14,538 | $41,698 | -3% | #161 of 268 | #206 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $36,546 | — | — | — | — | $20,500 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Chapman University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $1,127,442
- Avg rent near campus: $3,165/mo — vs ~$1,294/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 92701 (2.9% cap, Santa Ana)
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🏆 Where Chapman University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $62,400 | $62,400 |
| Room | $11,646 | |
| Board | $5,732 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $85,080 | $85,080 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Chapman University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Chapman University?
How much does it cost to attend Chapman University?
What is the graduation rate at Chapman University?
Is Chapman University a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Chapman University?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Chapman University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Chapman University
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology