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George Washington Loyola Marymount USD Pepperdine Georgetown Oxy USC Fordham SCU Syracuse UOP Cal State Fullerton| Chapman University | American University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Chapman | AU | ||
| Location | Orange, CA | Washington, DC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,961 | 13,019 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #97 | #84 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | chapman.edu | american.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Chapman | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,400 | $55,724 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,400 | $55,724 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,378 | $17,012 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $48,037 | $40,189 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,274 | $31,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 62% |
Admission |
Chapman | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,914 | 17,786 | ||
| Admitted | 8,849 | 8,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.6% | 47.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.4% | 22% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1430 | 1300/1450 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Chapman | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Chapman | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,938 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $250 |
Diversity |
Chapman | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 25% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 5% | ||
| % International | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
Chapman | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 2% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 94% | ||
Campus |
Chapman | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Chapman based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 9,961 students)
Chapman vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Chapman or AU?
- Chapman University is 12% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($62,400.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12% higher at Chapman than American University ($62,400.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Chapman ($40,189 vs. $48,037)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 2.2% lower than costs at Chapman University ($17,012 vs. $17,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Chapman University than American University (87% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Chapman University students is 6% larger than aid received American University ($33,274 vs. $31,402)
Chapman vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Chapman or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or Chapman .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 35 points higher than at Chapman (1217)
- Incoming Chapman students have at the same average ACT score (28) as students at AU (28)
- Accepted freshman Chapman students have at the same average high school GPA (3.7) as students at AU (3.7)
- Chapman has a higher acceptance rate (55.6%) than AU (47.4%)
Chapman vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Chapman or AU? 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 AU and Chapman.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Chapman University (77% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $10,700 more per year than Chapman graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $54,100)
- Chapman University students graduate with a $3,312 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($20,938 vs. $24,250)
- Chapman graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($216 vs. $250)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chapman students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/