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Chapman University

EIN 95-1643992 · Orange, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY IS TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED EDUCATION OF DISTINCTION THAT LEADS TO INQUIRING, ETHICAL AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES AS GLOBAL CITIZENS.

Income
$757.8 million
Spending
$689.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
5,891
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$1.9 million, president/ex-officio trustee

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    63 of 64 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $453.2 million spent. LISTED BELOW ARE CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, WHICH CURRENTLY PROVIDE MORE THAN 50 FIELDS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDY AND MORE THAN 40 GRADUATE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF CREDENTIAL AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.- GEORGE L. ARGYROS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS- ATTALLAH COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES- LAWRENCE AND KRISTINA DODGE COLLEGE OF FILM AND MEDIA ARTS- JOHN & DONNA CREAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES- WILKINSON COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES, & SOCIAL SCIENCES- COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS- SCHOOL OF PHARMACY- DALE E. FOWLER SCHOOL OF LAW- SCHMID COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION- DALE E. AND SARAH ANN FOWLER SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
  2. $57.2 million spent. CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY HAS TWO LIBRARIES WHICH SERVE AS A PRIMARY RESOURCE OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY -THE LEATHERBY LIBRARIES AND THE HUGH & HAZEL DARLING LAW LIBRARY.THE LEATHERBY LIBRARIES INCLUDES NINE INDIVIDUALLY NAMED LIBRARIES WITH DISTINCTIVE COLLECTIONS REPRESENTING DISCIPLINARY AREAS OF THE UNIVERSITY TO INCLUDE ARTS AND HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, MUSIC, FILM AND MEDIA ARTS, AND BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS, HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL LIBRARY, AND A SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES LIBRARY. THE FIVE-STORY FACILITY FEATURES 15 GROUP STUDY ROOMS, 5 MULTI-MEDIA ROOMS, A PRESENTATION STUDIO, OVER 145 COMPUTERS, 6 COMPUTER CLASSROOMS, A LIBRARY INSTRUCTION ROOM, AN EXTENDED HOURS STUDY COMMONS, AND MORE THAN 800 SEATS AT TABLES, STUDY CARRELS, AND LOUNGE CHAIRS. THE LEATHERBY LIBRARIES COLLECTION CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 400,000 VOLUMES AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO OVER 400 DATABASES, 65,000 PERIODICAL TITLES, IN ADDITION TO DVD'S VIDEOS, CD'S AND OTHER MEDIA EQUIPMENT.THE HUGH & HAZEL DARLING LAW LIBRARY FEATURES COMFORTABLE, QUIET STUDY AREAS WITH SEATING FOR OVER 300 PATRONS, INCLUDING 11 GROUP STUDY ROOMS. THE LIBRARY PROVIDES ACCESS TO OVER 300,000 RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE MODERN LEGAL RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY NEEDS FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS. THE LIBRARY IS OPEN OVER 100 HOURS A WEEK ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAS EXTENDED HOURS DURING EXAM PERIODS.
  3. $50.4 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTENDING THEIR EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THESE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE STUDENT GOVERNMENT, DIVISION III INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, PUBLICATIONS, RADIO BROADCASTING, FINE ARTS, AND OVER 200 REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING AN ACTIVE FRATERNITY AND SORORITY SYSTEM.
  4. $49.7 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISESSTUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO ATTEND A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL, SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL, SERVICE AND SOCIAL EVENTS. BECAUSE OF CHAPMAN'S SIZE, STUDENTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO ONE OR TWO ASPECTS OF CAMPUS LIFE BUT ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A WIDE ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITIES. CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY IS PROUD TO OFFER SEVERAL HOUSING OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING FIVE TRADITIONAL RESIDENCE HALLS AND SIX APARTMENT-STYLE RESIDENCE FACILITIES. WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENCE HALLS AND APARTMENTS ARE COMFORTABLE AND SAFE LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. THE CHAPMAN LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CREATES AN ENGAGING CAMPUS CLIMATE AND PROVIDES MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT FACILITATE THE FOLLOWING LEARNING OUTCOMES:- A HEALTHY SENSE OF SELF: STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP AN HONEST UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THEMSELVES AND AN ABILITY TO MAKE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES THAT PROMOTE THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.- A FRAMEWORK OF PERSONAL ETHICS AND VALUES: STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK OF CONSISTENT ETHICS AND VALUES THAT GUIDES THEIR DAILY LIVES.- AN ABILITY TO APPLY CRITICAL THOUGHT: STUDENTS WILL MAKE EFFECTIVE DECISIONS GROUNDED IN CAREFUL, OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION, EXPERIENCES AND IDEAS.- AN ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS: STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP SKILLS TO ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN HEALTHY, MEANINGFUL INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.- A COMMITMENT TO CITIZENSHIP: STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AND COMMIT TO BECOMING AN ENGAGED MEMBER.- A PURSUIT OF LIFELONG LEARNING: STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP AN INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY AND DESIRE FOR CONTINUAL LEARNING BOTH WITHIN AND BEYOND FORMAL EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1951.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.