Chapman vs. Claremont McKenna

Deciding between Chapman University and Claremont McKenna College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chapman Orange, CA
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • Chapman Midsize City
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Chapman 9,760
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • Type
  • Chapman Private 4 Year
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chapman #103
  • Claremont McKenna #17
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chapman Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Status
  • Chapman Non-profit
  • Claremont McKenna Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chapman
  • Claremont McKenna
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chapman $64,984
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chapman $64,984
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Room & Board
  • Chapman $17,814
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • Average Net Price
  • Chapman $47,902
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chapman $35,434
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chapman 88%
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chapman 15,634
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • Admitted
  • Chapman 10,230
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chapman 65.4%
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Chapman 15.9%
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chapman 1350
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chapman 29
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chapman 3.7
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chapman A-
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chapman Very High
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chapman Low
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Chapman 28/31
  • Claremont McKenna 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Chapman 1260/1440
  • Claremont McKenna 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chapman Test optional
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Chapman Jan 15, 2027
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Chapman 12:1
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Chapman
    • Visual and Performing Arts (27%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Communication (18%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chapman 72%
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chapman $54,100
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chapman 65%
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chapman $20,938
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chapman $216
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chapman 39%
  • Claremont McKenna 50%
  • % Women
  • Chapman 61%
  • Claremont McKenna 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chapman High
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • HBCU
  • Chapman No
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • % White
  • Chapman 58%
  • Claremont McKenna 42%
  • % Asian
  • Chapman 10%
  • Claremont McKenna 10%
  • % Black
  • Chapman 1%
  • Claremont McKenna 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chapman 14%
  • Claremont McKenna 14%
  • % Native American
  • Chapman 0%
  • Claremont McKenna 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chapman 0%
  • Claremont McKenna 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chapman 6%
  • Claremont McKenna 7%
  • % International
  • Chapman 4%
  • Claremont McKenna 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chapman 4%
  • Claremont McKenna 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chapman 61%
  • Claremont McKenna 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chapman 35%
  • Claremont McKenna 42%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Chapman Yes
  • Claremont McKenna Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Chapman No
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • Meal Plan
  • Chapman Yes
  • Claremont McKenna Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Chapman No
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Chapman No
  • Claremont McKenna No

Comparable Facts

Compare Chapman University in Orange, CA with Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chapman University is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (9,760 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chapman University is located in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Chapman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chapman University 12:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

Chapman vs. Claremont McKenna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chapman or Claremont McKenna? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Claremont McKenna College than Chapman ($33,895 vs. $47,902).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chapman University are 14.5% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($17,814 vs. $20,830).
  • Claremont McKenna College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chapman (about $2,996 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $64,984.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Claremont McKenna than at Chapman University (about $2,996 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $64,984.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chapman University than at Claremont McKenna College (88% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 48.5% larger than aid received by Chapman University students ($52,605 vs. $35,434).

Chapman vs. Claremont McKenna Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chapman or Claremont McKenna? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Claremont McKenna and Chapman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 170 points higher than at Chapman (1350).
  • Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Chapman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chapman University 1260/1440; Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chapman University 28/31; Claremont McKenna College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chapman - Test optional; Claremont McKenna - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Chapman Jan 15, 2027; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Claremont McKenna students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Chapman (3.7).
  • Chapman has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at Chapman vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

Chapman vs. Claremont McKenna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chapman and Claremont McKenna? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Claremont McKenna College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Chapman University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $43,700 more per year than Chapman graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $5,971 lower median loan debt than Chapman graduates ($14,967 vs. $20,938).
  • Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Chapman graduates ($154 vs. $216).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.