»Graduate Admission FAQs

Each program has its own application deadline. Visit our list of program deadlines to find the deadline for the program

Not all programs require test scores. You can view a list of program-specific test score requirements here. Also feel free to contact any individual program for more information.

• If you are a U.S. citizen, but you obtained your bachelor's degree outside the United States, you may be required to submit official scores from an English Language Proficiency Exam as part of your application. Information about English Language Exams can be found on our How to Apply as an International Student webpage. If you have any questions, you can email us at gradadmit@chapman.edu with more information about where you obtained your bachelor's degree, and we can confirm if you will need to submit English scores. 

Test scores have expiration dates that are set by the testing service administering the specific exam. Should you have any questions about your exam score(s) or the validity of your scores, please reach out to us at gradadmit@chapman.edu with more information about your situation.

• GRE scores are valid for five years
• GMAT scores are valid for five years
• TOEFL scores are valid for two years
• IELTS scores are valid for two years

You can find contact information for program-specific admission counselors here. Our graduate admission counselors can help with any questions about the application process. 

If you have general questions or can't find your counselor, you can always email gradadmit@chapman.edu with your question. 

Fee waiver requests are available to qualified domestic applicants only. More information about our fee waiver policy is available on our Application Fee Information webpage. 

Please note that fee waivers are not offered to international applicants. 

Only applicants who obtained (or will obtain) their undergraduate (or higher) degree from a university located outside the United States are able to submit unofficial transcripts as part of their application. 

If you obtained (or will obtain) an undergraduate (or higher) degree from a university or institute located in the United States, then official transcripts are required. We cannot accept copies of official (unofficial) transcripts from universities located in the United States. 

Should you have any questions on what documentation you should provide in your application, please contact your Graduate Admission Counselor. 

Prospective graduate students have several opportunities to visit our Orange or Rinker campuses: 

• Our Argyros College of Business and Economics provides one-on-one appointments and tours of our Orange Campus, as well as other opportunities to visit.
• Our Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers frequent Graduate Tours.
• You are welcome to attend a general tour of our Orange Campus. These tours are targeted for our undergraduate population, but can provide a thorough introduction to campus life.
• The Rinker Campus offers individual program tours by appointment only. 
• You can also contact individual programs about visiting their facilities. 
• Many programs conduct information sessions about their programs held on campus. 

Yes. Please review the specific application requirements for your program.

In many cases, yes. Sitting in on a class is a great way to decide if a program is right for you. To request to sit in on a class, reach out to your program contact.

Login to your application status page to see the current status of your application. Once a decision has been made on your application, you will receive an email letting you know to check your status page to view your admission decision. 

We appreciate knowing as soon as possible, but you can ask your program when they will need to hear back from you. Many programs want an admission reply within as little as 14 days of admission or up to 30 days of admission. Your admission letter should provide you with a date of when you should reply to our offer of admission and may vary based on the program in which you are admitted or funding offered. 

Tuition varies by program. You can find a full listing of those costs here.

Academic fellowships and scholarships are awarded by individual schools and departments. Each department establishes requirements for these awards. You can find additional Chapman University Aid programs here. Students are also eligible for outside scholarships.

In most cases, a program applicant will automatically be considered for scholarships, so no additional application materials would be required. However, each school has its own requirements for applying. Contact your admission counselor to obtain more information.

Scholarship award notifications generally are sent along with admission. 

No, our graduate programs do not offer need-based aid.

We recommend that your letters are written by someone who can attest to your character and speak to achievements related to your desired area of study. This can include professors, supervisors, etc.

Some programs do have specifications about what type of recommenders they prefer. Please review program requirements before requesting recommendtions to ensure that you are requesting the correct type(s) of recommendations. If you're not sure, please contact us at gradadmit@chapman.edu. 

Letters of recommendation should be sent via the application, in sealed envelopes by your recommenders, or directly via email from your recommenders (to gradadmit@chapman.edu). We cannot accept recommendations sent from the student. 

There are also document service sites that allow recommenders to upload letters, providing you with a shareable folder link to send with your application materials. 

Letters of recommendation can be sent a few ways:

• Directly through the online application system. When filling out your application, you will enter your recommenders' contact information, and they will be sent an email inviting them to submit an online recommendation on your behalf.
• Via email to gradadmit@chapman.edu
• Via sealed envelope to:

Chapman University
Office of Graduate Admission
One University Dr.
Orange, CA, 92866

We cannot accept recommendations sent from the student.