UCSC vs. Chapman

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz and Chapman 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.

University of California Santa Cruz
Chapman University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Chapman Orange, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Chapman Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Chapman 9,760
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Chapman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Chapman #103
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • Chapman Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Chapman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • Chapman

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Chapman $64,984
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Chapman $64,984
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Chapman $17,814
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Chapman $47,902
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Chapman $35,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Chapman 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Chapman 15,634
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Chapman 10,230
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Chapman 65.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Chapman 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Chapman 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Chapman 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Chapman 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Chapman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Chapman Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Chapman Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • Chapman 28/31
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Chapman 1260/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Chapman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Chapman Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Chapman 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Chapman
    • Visual and Performing Arts (27%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Communication (18%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Chapman 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Chapman $54,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Chapman 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Chapman $20,938
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Chapman $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • Chapman 39%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • Chapman 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • Chapman High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • Chapman No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • Chapman 58%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • Chapman 10%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • Chapman 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • Chapman 14%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • Chapman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • Chapman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • Chapman 6%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • Chapman 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • Chapman 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • Chapman 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • Chapman 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Chapman University in Orange, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Chapman based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 9,760 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Chapman University is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Chapman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Chapman University 12:1.

UCSC vs. Chapman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Chapman? 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 University of California Santa Cruz than Chapman ($18,059 vs. $47,902).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chapman University are 10.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($17,814 vs. $19,948).
  • Chapman University is 306% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $48,979 more per year; $64,984.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at Chapman than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $14,779 more per year; $64,984.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chapman University than at University of California Santa Cruz (88% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chapman University students is 55.6% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($35,434 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. Chapman Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Chapman University (1350) is 90 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming UCSC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Chapman (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Chapman University 1260/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Chapman University 28/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Chapman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Chapman Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Chapman students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Chapman (65.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 15.9% at Chapman.

UCSC vs. Chapman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Chapman? 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).

  • University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Chapman University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Chapman University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,100 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $979 lower median loan debt than Chapman graduates ($19,959 vs. $20,938).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Chapman graduates ($206 vs. $216).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chapman students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.