Chapman University

Chapman University is a private research university located in Orange, California, in the United States. It is classified as an "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity," which means it is a place where students can study and do important research. The university has eleven different colleges where students can learn many subjects.

Although it started with ties to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, Chapman University is now a secular school. This means that while it began with religious connections, it now welcomes people of all beliefs and focuses on education for everyone. The university offers many opportunities for students to explore their interests and prepare for future careers.

History

Chapman University started in Woodland, California as Hesperian College on March 4, 1861, the same hour Abraham Lincoln began his first inauguration. It welcomed everyone, no matter their sex or race. Over the years, the school changed names and moved many times. In 1896, it became the Berkeley Bible Seminary in Berkeley, California. It later moved to San Francisco and then to Los Angeles.

In 1934, the school was named Chapman College after C. C. Chapman. In 1954, it moved to its current home in Orange. It became Chapman University in 1991, with James L. Doti as its president. Over the years, Chapman grew with new schools and centers, such as the School of Film and Television, now the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Between 2000 and 2010, Chapman added many important buildings and programs. In 2016, Daniele C. Struppa became president, and the Musco Center for the Arts opened. In 2018, the Keck Center for Science and Engineering and the Fowler School of Engineering opened. By 2022, Chapman was recognized as a top research university.

In 2019, there was a discussion about posters of an old film on campus. After peaceful protests and surveys, the posters were taken down.

In 2025, Matt Parlow became the university’s 14th president.

Academics

Chapman University has many different colleges where students can study many subjects. Some of these colleges include the Argyros College of Business and Economics, which offers business degrees, and the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, which focuses on health and psychology.

Other colleges include the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, known for its film programs, and the Fowler School of Law, where students can study to become lawyers. There are also colleges for engineering, performing arts, science, pharmacy, communication, and arts and humanities. Each college offers many different programs and opportunities for students to learn and grow.

Student life

Chapman University has a lively student community that includes national sororities and fraternities. These groups help students make friends and get involved in university activities.

Rankings and admissions

In the 2020 rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Chapman University moved up to the National Universities group and debuted at a tie for 125th place. This change happened because Chapman was recognized for its strong research work.

For the 2021 rankings, Chapman tied for 124th among all national universities. It also did well in categories like best teaching, innovation, support for veterans, and helping students from different backgrounds succeed. The business and law schools also received rankings that year.

For students starting in fall 2018, Chapman received over 14,000 applications and accepted about 7,600. Of those, around 1,660 chose to join. The average SAT scores for new students were 640 in reading and writing, and 638 in math. The average ACT score was 27.9, and the average high school GPA was 3.75 out of 4.0.

Holocaust education

The Barry and Phyllis Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education started in February 2000. It holds a yearly writing competition to remember the Holocaust and has special lectures often.

The Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library is part of the Leatherby Libraries. It was paid for by Henry Samueli. On April 11, 2005, sixty years after he was freed from the Buchenwald concentration camp, Elie Wiesel officially opened the library. A large bust of Wiesel can be seen at the entrance.

Athletics

Chapman's athletic teams are called the Panthers. The university competes in the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which means they do not offer sports scholarships. They have been part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference since 2011.

The softball team reached a big national tournament in 1979. The football team has won the conference championship several times, including in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2025. The baseball team has also achieved great success, winning national tournament titles in 2003 and 2019. Some games are broadcast by students through the Chapman Sports Broadcast Network.

Notable people

Alumni

Main article: List of Chapman University alumni

Chapman University has many notable graduates. George Argyros became a U.S. ambassador to Spain and owned a Major League Baseball team. Ryan Bergara created a popular documentary web series. David Bonior served as a U.S. representative from Michigan. The Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, co-created the hit show Stranger Things. Hannah Einbinder acts in the HBO Max series Hacks. Tim Flannery played and coached in Major League Baseball. Randy Jones won a Cy Young Award as a baseball pitcher. Joanna Rosholm worked for First Lady Michelle Obama. Loretta Sanchez served in the United States House of Representatives. Justin Simien directed the film Dear White People. Kate Ziegler competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics as a swimmer.

Current and former faculty

Many well-known teachers and experts have worked at Chapman University. Yakir Aharonov won important science prizes. Martha Coolidge directed films and was the first woman to lead the Directors Guild of America. Hugh Hewitt worked in the Reagan Administration and teaches law. Jack Horner advised the Jurassic Park movies. Cheryl Boone Isaacs led the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Vernon Smith won a Nobel Prize in Economics. Rebecca Skloot is known for her science writing.