California Lutheran University vs. Chapman

Should I go to California Lutheran University or Chapman University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California Lutheran University or Chapman is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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California Lutheran University vs. Chapman University comparison
California Lutheran University Chapman University College 3 College 4
California Lutheran University Chapman University
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Overview

 California Lutheran University Chapman
Location Thousand Oaks, CA Orange, CA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 3,413 9,961
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #359 #97
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website callutheran.edu chapman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 California Lutheran University Chapman
Tuition (In State) $49,880 $62,400
Tuition (Out of State) $49,880 $62,400
Room & Board $17,734 $17,378
Avg Net Price $27,080 $48,037
Avg Grant Aid $36,687 $33,274
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

 California Lutheran University Chapman
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,290 15,914
Admitted 4,702 8,849
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 55.6%
Enrolled % 12.2% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 28/32
SAT Range 1134/1320 1250/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 California Lutheran University Chapman
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (27%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Communication (18%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

 California Lutheran University Chapman
Graduation Rate 64% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,900 $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $20,938
Median Loan Payment $237 $216

Diversity

 California Lutheran University Chapman
% Men 10% 8%
% Women 20% 13%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 49% 58%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 27% 14%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

 California Lutheran University Chapman
% In-State 80% 61%
% Out-of-State 16% 35%

Campus

 California Lutheran University Chapman
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Chapman University is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (9,961 students vs. 3,413 students)

California Lutheran University vs. Chapman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or Chapman?

  • Chapman University is 25.1% more expensive to attend than California Lutheran University for in-state tuition ($62,400.00 vs. $49,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.1% higher at Chapman than California Lutheran University ($62,400.00 vs. $49,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Lutheran University than Chapman ($27,080 vs. $48,037)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chapman University are 2% lower than costs at California Lutheran University ($17,378 vs. $17,734)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than Chapman University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 10.3% larger than aid received Chapman University ($36,687 vs. $33,274)

California Lutheran University vs. Chapman Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California Lutheran University or Chapman? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Chapman or California Lutheran University .

  • The average SAT score at Chapman University (1217) is 108 points higher than at California Lutheran University (1109)
  • Incoming Chapman students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at California Lutheran University (25)
  • Accepted freshman California Lutheran University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Chapman (3.7)
  • California Lutheran University has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Chapman (55.6%)

California Lutheran University vs. Chapman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California Lutheran University or Chapman? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Chapman and California Lutheran University.

  • The graduation rate at Chapman is higher than California Lutheran University (72% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from California Lutheran University earn on average $3,800 more per year than Chapman graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $54,100)
  • Chapman University students graduate with a $2,062 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($20,938 vs. $23,000)
  • Chapman graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($216 vs. $237)
  • More California Lutheran University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chapman students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/