Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Chapman University #941 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,219 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Chapman University in the 52.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Chapman University sits in the 77.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Chapman University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes across its business-focused program mix. The institution's earnings advantage emerges clearly when comparing graduates to similar students at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Chapman University #941 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private research university (Carnegie R2) in Orange, California, Chapman University enrolls roughly 7,478 undergraduates. Retention is 91.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 81.9%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Chapman University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Chapman University #333 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,219 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Chapman University in the 52.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects Chapman University's concentration in Business, a field that consistently delivers solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates entering competitive labor markets. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Chapman University sits in the 48.8 percentile for access and the 2.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 19.4% Pell-eligible students and 17.9% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a more selective admissions posture than many peer institutions. Mobility outcomes rank at the 61.1 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve strong earnings, the institution's access to low-income and first-generation students remains more limited than at broader-access peers.
Chapman University's published cost of attendance is $83,146. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $33,559, middle-income families pay around $33,709, and higher-income families pay approximately $55,066. Azimuth ranks Chapman University #1384 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and merit scholarships, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Chapman's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based scholarships to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and merit scholarships are available for qualifying students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The net price illusion explains how published cost can differ substantially from what families actually pay after aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,954; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,336, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Chapman University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private university experience in Orange, CA. Its program mix leans toward applied-professional disciplines, with Business accounting for 33% of degrees. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,336, placing Chapman University in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $1,219 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 52.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Chapman enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 19.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.9% are first-generation — with completion rates that track national norms. Published cost of attendance is $55,066, and typical federal student debt at graduation is $20,500. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 65.4% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business and related fields over STEM-heavy disciplines. Students whose interests align with those areas will find strong outcomes relative to California's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Chapman University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Science
52 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
47 graduates
Business/Managerial Economics
46 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
481 graduates
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
43 graduates
Chapman University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the university's positioning as a career-focused private institution in Southern California. Business Administration is the largest program with 481 graduates, followed by Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Psychology, General, Public Health, and Business/Corporate Communications.
The Business concentration—which includes Business at 33%, Arts at 20%, and Social Sciences at 5%—positions the university as a professional-degree-oriented institution with strong employer alignment in the Orange County and broader Southern California region. Among the highest-earning programs, Computer Science leads with 52 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $112,780, followed by Business Administration with graduates earning $84,378, and Business/Corporate Communications with graduates earning $76,412.
Communication and Media Studies and Public Health round out the institution's strongest earnings outcomes. These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately after completion, with earnings reflecting stable labor-market demand in business, accounting, finance, and related applied fields.
The program portfolio emphasizes applied professional preparation over research-intensive or graduate-school-dependent pathways. This orientation aligns with Chapman University's identity as a career-outcomes-focused private university serving students who prioritize early earnings and workforce entry.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in business and professional services.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California Lutheran University Higher acceptance rate (33.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 66 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 89% | $68,712 | Compare |
University Of Redlands Higher acceptance rate (25.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 44 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 81% | $72,690 | Compare |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 18 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 74% | $71,902 | Compare |
California State University-East Bay Higher acceptance rate (41.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 97% | $71,401 | Compare |
San Francisco State University Higher acceptance rate (40.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 96% | $68,077 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rider University Similar quality tier (#25925 ranked) | NJ | 79% | $62,208 | #25925 | Compare |
Long Island University Similar quality tier (#24849 ranked) | NY | 86% | $59,950 | #24849 | Compare |
Baylor University Similar quality tier (#25934 ranked) | TX | 51% | $65,793 | #25934 | Compare |
University Of Mary Hardin-Baylor Similar quality tier (#25937 ranked) | TX | 96% | $56,132 | #25937 | Compare |
Campbell University Similar quality tier (#25943 ranked) | NC | 87% | $54,886 | #25943 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Chapman University's published cost of attendance is $83,146. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $33,559, middle-income families pay around $33,709, and higher-income families pay approximately $55,066.
Azimuth ranks Chapman University #1384 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and merit scholarships, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Chapman's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based scholarships to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and merit scholarships are available for qualifying students.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) explains how published cost can differ substantially from what families actually pay after aid.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,954; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,336, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Chapman University earn median 4-year earnings of $73,336, placing Chapman University in the 74.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,219 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Chapman University in the 52.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Chapman University #333 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Chapman's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 481 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $84,378, at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Film/Video and Photographic Arts program graduates 211 students earning $66,494 four years after enrollment, while Psychology, General and Public Health round out the top programs with 138 and 116 graduates respectively.
These programs anchor Chapman's return profile, with Business representing the institution's primary degree focus and driving consistent mid-career earnings outcomes across the student body.
