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Chapman University
Orange, CA 7,629 Undergrads 80.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$81,327
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$47,527
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,070
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$47,527
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$70,070
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate80.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
55.6%
SAT Avg
1,353
SAT Reading
25th: 63065575th: 710
SAT Math
25th: 62065575th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: 282975th: 32
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$594k
+$197k
+$109k
Median Cost$48k/yr
+$422k
+$26k
-$62k
Full Cost$81k/yr
+$301k
-$96k
-$184k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$48k/yr
Never
-36%
Full Cost$81k/yr
Never
-63%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-27%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-73%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,875
Earnings (5yr)
$107,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,913
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (5yr)
$98,104
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Business/Corporate Communications
BachCIP: 5205
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (5yr)
$78,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$22,977
Earnings (5yr)
$89,309
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,777
Earnings (5yr)
$59,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,809
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$23,624
Earnings (5yr)
$33,077
Lifetime Value Added
-$352k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$23,823
Earnings (5yr)
$77,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,859
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$366k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,834
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,196
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$400k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$22,290
Earnings (5yr)
$69,171
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,976
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$317k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$366k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,242
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$76,156
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$75,336
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,749
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$407k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,118
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$79,168
Earnings (5yr)
$120,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$529k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$138,664
Earnings (5yr)
$36,723
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$30,300
Earnings (5yr)
$69,788
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$144,710
Earnings (5yr)
$61,371
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$87,286
Earnings (5yr)
$78,008
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,350
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Graduate Certificates
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$77,715
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$91,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Law
DocCIP: 2201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$117,900
Lifetime Value Added
+$255k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$100,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$170,800
Earnings (5yr)
$115,598
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
ProfCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,113
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$159,899
Earnings (5yr)
$80,944
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.