Chapman sits at the hub of Orange County and a stone’s throw from L.A. Has parlayed its O.C. location into burgeoning popularity in film, television, and the performing arts. Those without showbiz aspirations can opt for strong programs in business, communication studies, or biology. Disneyland is in the neighborhood, but you need a car or a ride to get there.

Although best known as a Southern Californian mecca for budding filmmakers to hone their craft, Chapman University continues to stake its claim as a comprehensive institution that happens to offer one of the nation’s best film programs-rather than a film school that also happens to offer other majors. Chapman boasts stellar programs in business and has increased its emphasis on health sciences and technology. It also facilitates countless internships to send its students out into the workforce with real-world experience.

Founded in 1861, Chapman is one of the oldest private universities in California. Originally called Hesperian College, the school was renamed in 1934 in honor of C. C. Chapman, an Orange County entrepreneur and benefactor of the school. The beautiful residential campus, situated on 80 tree-lined acres, features a mixture of landmark historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities. It is located in the historic Old Towne district of Orange, near outstanding beaches, Disneyland, and the world-class cultural offerings of Orange County and Los Angeles. Recent construction includes the 140,000-square-foot Keck Center for Science and Engineering.

Regardless of major, all students complete a four-part general education program: a First-Year Foundations Course taken in the fall; six inquiry categories (natural science, quantitative reasoning, writing, social sciences, values and ethics, and artistic studies); a Global Citizen cluster (two courses in global studies, one in civic issues, and a language course); and a mini-minor, minor, or second major. Chapman’s first-year experience program, Fenestra (Latin for “window”), encourages students to approach their first year as a “window of opportunity”; the program involves a weeklong orientation and special workshops, field trips, and social activities held throughout the year.

The most popular majors are business administration, psychology, strategic and corporate communication, communication studies, and film production. Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is a comprehensive, production-based school that offers such majors as news/broadcast journalism and documentary, television writing and production, public relations and advertising, and creative producing, as well as internships and other active learning opportunities. Emerging entrepreneurs can take advantage of a well-stocked portfolio of business programs through the Argyros School of Business and Economics. The Economic Science Institute allows for the study of experimental economics under the direction of Nobel laureate Dr. Vernon Smith and encompasses fields as diverse as finance, engineering, neuroscience, computer science, and philosophy, among others. Notable programs in music, theatre, and dance involve frequent national and international performance components. Among the sciences, biology and health sciences are solid. The Fowler School of Engineering, launched in 2019, offers undergraduate degrees in computer engineering, computer science, data analytics, electrical engineering, and software engineering. Accelerated degree programs allow students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s in five years in several disciplines, including pharmaceutical sciences.

“Regardless of the course of study you are taking at Chapman, you are going to have an in-depth and personalized education,” says a creative producing major. Forty-four percent of classes have fewer than 20 students. Freshmen are taught by professors-there are no teaching assistants-and a sophomore says, “My professors have been supportive, understanding, intellectual, friendly, and innovative.” Students interested in conducting faculty-mentored research can apply to the SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) program, which awards up to $4,000 in funding to selected fellows. An English and sociology major highly recommends the Honors Program, which allows students to “dive deeply into very niche topics” as well as “build and teach their own classes to their peers.” Those seeking a global learning experience can choose from semester-long study abroad programs, in addition to short-term, faculty-led travel courses and international summer internships; 42 percent of students avail themselves of these opportunities. As for career services, a junior says, “If I have any question about my résumé or cover letter or need a place to do a phone or Skype interview, I just walk into the Office of Career and Professional Development.”

Chapman attracts a friendly, largely affluent student body. A junior says, “A Chapman student is a leader, someone who wants to be actively involved in their community and consciously making a difference.” Sixty-two percent of students hail from California, and 4 percent are international. African Americans comprise 2 percent of the population, Asian Americans 14 percent, Hispanics 16 percent, and multiracial students 8 percent. Chapman recently opened a Cross-Cultural Center, and a senior says, “Discussions of diversity, tolerance, inclusion, and safety are common on campus.” Eligible undergraduates receive merit scholarships worth an average of $18,200, but since Chapman is a Division III school, there are no athletic scholarships.

Forty-seven percent of Chapman students reside on campus. First-years are housed in residence halls based on their chosen academic program; one student explains, “This allows for students to know their peers on day one of classes and always have a study partner throughout the semester.” Meals at the Randall Dining Commons are described as tasty and diverse. Campus safety receives positive reviews, and the CARES (Creating a Rape-Free Environment for Students) student organization is active in raising awareness about campus sexual assault.

Thirty percent of the men join fraternities, and sororities attract 36 percent of the women; all members of the Greek community are required to perform community service, and Greek life doesn’t dominate the social scene. A junior describes Chapman’s off-campus party culture as “intimate,” adding, “Students prefer to keep it to a lower scale, mostly due to the lack of a Greek row.” Students also enjoy a plenitude of school-sponsored events, including movies, dances, museum visits, hiking trips, and, of course, sunny beach excursions. Every year, students flock to the homecoming celebration’s chili cook-off and fireworks, WinterFest, the Spring Sizzle festival, and Midnight Breakfast during finals week.

The city of Orange (population 140,000) is a college town only in the technical sense of the term. “It’s actually a very quiet city,” says a junior. The Old Towne district is well known as “the Antique Capital of California,” although several trendy restaurants, brew pubs, and boutiques have opened their doors in the last few years. When students grow weary of the area, they take advantage of the pristine Southern California weather to explore the great outdoors or take trips to Disneyland, L.A., or San Diego.

The Chapman Panthers compete in the Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Football, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball are recent conference champions. The Chapman Dance Team has brought home several national championships in the last decade. Intramurals and club sports draw a quarter of the student body; intramural basketball and soccer are the most popular, and the men’s club lacrosse team is nationally competitive.

Students at Chapman are expected not only to hit the books but also to actively express their creativity through hands-on learning, on-campus involvement, and forays into the real world. In return, they are rewarded with an exceptionally supportive environment that both nurtures and challenges them every step of the way.

-Fiske Guide