Chapman University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chapman University

Former names	Hesperian College (1861–1896) Pierce Christian College (1874–1896) Berkeley Bible Seminary (1896–1912) California Bible College (1912–1920) California School of Christianity (1920–1923) California Christian College (1918–1920, 1923–1934) Chapman College (1934–1991)
Motto	ὀ Χριστòς καì ἡ Ἐκκλησíα (Greek)
Motto in English	"Christ and Church"
Type	Private research university
Established	March 4, 1861; 164 years ago (March 4, 1861)
Accreditation	WSCUC
Religious affiliation	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United Church of Christ
Academic affiliations	AICCU ICSC
Endowment	$860 million (2025)
President	Daniele C. Struppa
Academic staff	1,117 total
Administrative staff	752 total
Students	10,001
Undergraduates	7,656
Postgraduates	2,345
Location	Orange , California , United States
Campus	Midsize city, 90 acres (36 ha)
Other campuses	Irvine
Newspaper	The Panther
Colors	Red and black
Nickname	Panthers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III - SCIAC
Mascot	Pete the Panther

Chapman University is a private research university located in Orange, California. It has eleven different colleges and is known for its high level of research activity. Even though it has ties to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, it is a university that welcomes students of all backgrounds.

History of Chapman University

Sculpture of Charles C. Chapman, who the university is named after

Wilkinson Hall

Schmid Gate, built in 2005

A section of the Berlin Wall in Liberty Plaza

Chapman University started as Hesperian College in Woodland, California, on March 4, 1861. It was special because it welcomed students of all genders and races from the very beginning. Over the years, the school changed its name and moved several times.

In 1934, the school became Chapman College. It was named after C. C. Chapman, who was a big supporter and leader of the school. In 1954, Chapman University moved to its current home in Orange, California.

The school continued to grow and became Chapman University in 1991. Since then, it has added many new buildings and programs. For example, the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, a well-known film school, opened in 1996.

More recently, the university opened the Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine in 2013. The Musco Center for the Arts, a large concert hall, opened in 2016. The Keck Center for Science and Engineering and the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering also opened in 2018.

In 2019, there was a discussion about posters for an old film called "... of a Nation" at the film school. After peaceful protests from students and a survey of faculty, the posters were eventually taken down.

Matt Parlow became the university's 14th president in 2025.

Attallah Piazza and Leatherby Libraries

What Students Learn: Academics at Chapman

Chapman University has many different colleges and schools where students can learn about various subjects.

Argyros College of Business and Economics

This college teaches students about business and money. It was named after George L. Argyros, a former U.S. Ambassador, who has given a lot of support to the school. The college offers degrees in business, including the Master of Business Administration. It has been ranked among the top business schools in the country.

The Argyros College also has special centers for research. These include centers for economic research, real estate, and entrepreneurship. One center, the Economic Science Institute, was started by Nobel Prize winner Vernon L. Smith.

Donna Ford Attallah College of Educational Studies

This college is for students who want to become teachers, school counselors, or school psychologists. It offers different degrees and programs to help students work in education. The college is located in Reeves Hall, a historic building that was built in 1913.

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

This college is famous for its film programs. It is recognized as one of the top film schools in the world. Students here learn about making movies and other media.

Dale E. Fowler School of Law

This school is where students can study to become lawyers. It offers different law degrees, including the Juris Doctor (J.D.).

Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering

This is the newest school at Chapman University, opened in 2019. It offers programs in engineering. The school has special labs called makerspaces where students can design and create things using 3D printers, laser cutters, and other cool equipment.

College of Performing Arts

This college is for students who love music, dance, and theater. It has different departments for each of these art forms.

Schmid College of Science and Technology

This college focuses on science and technology. It has many research centers, including those for computation, analysis, and earth systems. The college is also connected to the Institute for Quantum Studies, which includes a Nobel Prize winner.

The Schmid College moved into the new Keck Center for Science and Engineering in 2018. This building has many labs and spaces for students to work and study.

School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy is located on the Rinker Campus in Irvine. Students here can earn degrees to become pharmacists or to do research in pharmaceutical sciences.

School of Communication

This school is located in Doti Hall on the main campus. It offers programs for students interested in communication, including health communication and strategic communication.

Student Life at Chapman

Chapman University has a lively student community. Many students are part of Greek life, which includes different sororities and fraternities.

University Rankings and How to Get In

U.S. News & World Report is a magazine that ranks colleges. In 2020, Chapman University was ranked among the top national universities. This happened because the university increased its research activities.

For the 2021 rankings, Chapman was tied for 124th among national universities. It was also recognized for its undergraduate teaching and as an innovative school.

To get into Chapman, students apply with their high school grades and test scores. For students who started in fall 2018, the average high school GPA was 3.75.

Holocaust Education

Chapman University has a special center called the Barry and Phyllis Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education. It helps people learn about the Holocaust through events and competitions.

The Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library is also at the university. It was dedicated by Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Holocaust, in 2005.

Sports at Chapman

Chapman athletics monogram

Chapman's sports teams are called the Panthers. They compete in NCAA Division III sports, which means student-athletes do not receive scholarships for playing. They are part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

Team Achievements

The Chapman softball team played in the Women's College World Series in 1979.

The Panther football team won the SCIAC championship in 2014, 2017, and 2019.

In 2019, the men's baseball team won the NCAA National Championship for Division III.

Students at Chapman also run their own sports network, the Chapman Sports Broadcast Network (CSBN). They broadcast football and basketball games.

Famous People from Chapman University

Many notable people have studied or taught at Chapman University.

Alumni (Former Students)

• George Argyros (1959) – Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain.
• Ryan Bergara – Creator of the web series BuzzFeed Unsolved.
• Matt Duffer (2007) – Co-creator of the TV show Stranger Things.
• Ross Duffer (2007) – Co-creator of the TV show Stranger Things.
• Tim Flannery (1979) – Former professional baseball player and coach.
• Cooper Hefner (2015) – A business leader.
• Randy Jones – Former professional baseball player and Cy Young Award winner.
• Loretta Sanchez (1982) – Former member of the United States House of Representatives.
• Justin Simien (2005) – Filmmaker and director of Dear White People.
• Kate Ziegler – An Olympic swimmer.

Current and Former Faculty (Teachers)

• Yakir Aharonov – A professor and award-winning physicist.
• Richard Bausch – A professor in the English Department.
• Martha Coolidge – A film director and professor.
• Grace Fong – Director of Keyboard Studies at the Conservatory of Music.
• Jack Horner – A paleontologist who advised on the Jurassic Park movies.
• Laurence Iannaccone – A professor of economics.
• Cheryl Boone Isaacs – Former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
• Bill Kroyer – A professor and animator who worked on Disney's Tron.
• Peter McLaren – A distinguished professor in educational studies.
• Michael Shermer – An author and founder of The Skeptics Society.
• Vernon L. Smith – A Nobel Laureate in Economic Science.