Chapman vs. TCU

Deciding between Chapman University and Texas Christian University? 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
Texas Christian University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chapman Orange, CA
  • TCU Fort Worth, TX
  • Setting
  • Chapman Midsize City
  • TCU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Chapman 9,760
  • TCU 12,938
  • Type
  • Chapman Private 4 Year
  • TCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chapman #103
  • TCU #110
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chapman Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • TCU Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • Chapman Non-profit
  • TCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chapman
  • TCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chapman $64,984
  • TCU $61,740
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chapman $64,984
  • TCU $61,740
  • Room & Board
  • Chapman $17,814
  • TCU $16,700
  • Average Net Price
  • Chapman $47,902
  • TCU $41,848
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chapman $35,434
  • TCU $34,975
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chapman 88%
  • TCU 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chapman 15,634
  • TCU 22,307
  • Admitted
  • Chapman 10,230
  • TCU 9,925
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chapman 65.4%
  • TCU 44.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Chapman 15.9%
  • TCU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chapman 1350
  • TCU 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chapman 29
  • TCU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chapman 3.7
  • TCU 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chapman A-
  • TCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chapman Very High
  • TCU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chapman Low
  • TCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Chapman 28/31
  • TCU 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Chapman 1260/1440
  • TCU 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chapman Test optional
  • TCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Chapman Jan 15, 2027
  • TCU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Chapman 12:1
  • TCU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Chapman
    • Visual and Performing Arts (27%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Communication (18%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • TCU
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (18%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chapman 72%
  • TCU 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chapman $54,100
  • TCU $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chapman 65%
  • TCU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chapman $20,938
  • TCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chapman $216
  • TCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chapman 39%
  • TCU 39%
  • % Women
  • Chapman 61%
  • TCU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chapman High
  • TCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Chapman No
  • TCU No
  • % White
  • Chapman 58%
  • TCU 73%
  • % Asian
  • Chapman 10%
  • TCU 3%
  • % Black
  • Chapman 1%
  • TCU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chapman 14%
  • TCU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Chapman 0%
  • TCU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chapman 0%
  • TCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chapman 6%
  • TCU 0%
  • % International
  • Chapman 4%
  • TCU 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chapman 4%
  • TCU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chapman 61%
  • TCU 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chapman 35%
  • TCU 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Chapman University in Orange, CA with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas Christian University is larger than Chapman based on total student enrollment (12,938 students vs. 9,760 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chapman University is located in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting); Texas Christian University is in Fort Worth, TX (Large City setting).
  • Chapman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chapman University 12:1; Texas Christian University 14:1.

Chapman vs. TCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chapman or TCU? 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 Texas Christian University than Chapman ($41,848 vs. $47,902).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Christian University are 6.3% lower than at Chapman University ($16,700 vs. $17,814).
  • Chapman University is 5.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCU (about $3,244 more per year; $64,984.00 vs. $61,740.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.3% higher at Chapman than at Texas Christian University (about $3,244 more per year; $64,984.00 vs. $61,740.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chapman University than at Texas Christian University (88% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chapman University students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Texas Christian University students ($35,434 vs. $34,975).

Chapman vs. TCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chapman or TCU? 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 TCU and Chapman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Chapman University (1350) is 100 points higher than at TCU (1250).
  • Incoming Chapman students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at TCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chapman University 1260/1440; Texas Christian University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chapman University 28/31; Texas Christian University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chapman - Test optional; TCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Chapman Jan 15, 2027; TCU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Chapman students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at TCU (3.68).
  • Chapman has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than TCU (44.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at Chapman vs. 24.7% at TCU.

Chapman vs. TCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chapman and TCU? 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).

  • Texas Christian University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Chapman University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Texas Christian University earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Chapman graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chapman University graduates have a $562 lower median loan debt than TCU graduates ($20,938 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Chapman graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCU graduates ($216 vs. $222).
  • More TCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chapman students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 65%)

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.