Chapman vs. AU

Should I go to Chapman University or American University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Chapman or AU 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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Chapman University vs. American University comparison
Chapman University American University College 3 College 4
Chapman University American University
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Overview

Chapman AU
Location Orange, CA Washington, DC
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 10,014 13,885
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #111 #93
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) $60,288 $53,070
Tuition (Out of State) $60,288 $53,070
Room & Board $16,954 $15,706
Avg Net Price $45,033 $41,369
Avg Grant Aid $33,510 $27,138
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 66%

Admission

Chapman AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,690 19,510
Admitted 9,928 7,926
Acceptance Rate 72.5% 40.6%
Enrolled % 20.9% 22.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 29/32
SAT Range 1200/1400 1290/1430
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 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Chapman AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (27%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Communication (18%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)

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 39% 37%
% Women 61% 63%
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 60% 2%
% Out-of-State 36% 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 (13,885 students vs. 10,014 students)

Chapman vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chapman or AU?

  • Chapman University is 13.6% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($60,288.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.6% higher at Chapman than American University ($60,288.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Chapman ($41,369 vs. $45,033)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 7.9% lower than costs at Chapman University ($15,706 vs. $16,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chapman University than American University (87% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chapman University students is 23.5% larger than aid received American University ($33,510 vs. $27,138)

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 (72.5%) than AU (40.6%)

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/