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Loyola Marymount TCU Baylor USD UT Austin Pepperdine UT Dallas Texas A&M Tulane Rice Oxy Trinity| Chapman University | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Chapman | SMU | ||
| Location | Orange, CA | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 9,961 | 11,842 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #97 | #71 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | chapman.edu | smu.edu | ||
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Costs |
Chapman | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,400 | $57,212 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,400 | $57,212 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,378 | $18,230 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $48,037 | $45,792 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,274 | $36,850 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 69% |
Admission |
Chapman | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,914 | 15,092 | ||
| Admitted | 8,849 | 9,240 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.6% | 61.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.4% | 17.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1430 | 1320/1480 | ||
| 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 | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Chapman | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,938 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $222 |
Diversity |
Chapman | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
Chapman | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 55% | ||
Campus |
Chapman | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Chapman based on total student enrollment (11,842 students vs. 9,961 students)
Chapman vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Chapman or SMU?
- Chapman University is 9.1% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($62,400.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.1% higher at Chapman than Southern Methodist University ($62,400.00 vs. $57,212.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Methodist University than Chapman ($45,792 vs. $48,037)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chapman University are 4.9% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($17,378 vs. $18,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Chapman University than Southern Methodist University (87% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Methodist University students is 10.7% larger than aid received Chapman University ($36,850 vs. $33,274)
Chapman vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Chapman or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Chapman .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 113 points higher than at Chapman (1217)
- Incoming SMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Chapman (28)
- Accepted freshman Chapman students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (61.2%) than Chapman (55.6%)
Chapman vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Chapman or SMU? 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 SMU and Chapman.
- The graduation rate at SMU is higher than Chapman University (75% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $18,900 more per year than Chapman graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $54,100)
- Chapman University students graduate with a $562 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($20,938 vs. $21,500)
- Chapman graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($216 vs. $222)
- More SMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chapman students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/