Chapman Continues Rise in the 2025 National Rankings From U.S. News & World Report

Chapman University has once again made impressive strides in the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings, rising to No. 121 among the top National Universities for 2025.

Chapman University has once again made impressive strides in the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings, rising to No. 121 among the top National Universities for 2025. This marks a significant achievement for Chapman, reflecting its continued rise in prominence and its commitment to academic excellence, student success and innovation. The university’s latest ranking underscores its growing reputation as a leading institution of higher learning, both regionally and nationally.

Chapman scored high as one of the Best Colleges for Veterans, coming in at No. 79 in the nation. Since Chapman’s Veterans Resource Center opened in 2018, the VA educational benefit population has increased by 85%. The center helps veterans navigate the GI Bill, connects them with scholarships, acts as a conduit between community colleges and admissions and helps those who have served adjust to college life.

Chapman also ranked as one of the Best Value Schools among national universities, and several undergraduate programs were recognized for their strong reputation amongst peers, including business, psychology, computer science and economics. 

“Chapman’s reputation is on a strong upward trajectory,” says President Daniele C. Struppa. “We have intentionally built a university that attracts top-tier faculty, leading researchers and provides state-of-the-art facilities, all to offer our students a world-class, personalized education. Our graduates emerge as leaders and innovators, proud to be Chapman alumni. It’s rewarding to see our hard work recognized by our peers.”

Chapman has experienced a notable rise in the USNWR rankings over the past decade, first breaking into the national rankings in 2019. 

Earlier this year, Chapman was listed among The Best 390 Colleges by The Princeton Review, where it was highlighted for its gorgeous campus, access to research and internship opportunities, engaging faculty, and the “kind, respectful, artistic, intelligent and adventurous” student body. The university placed once again in the 2025 Best U.S. Colleges list from the Wall Street Journal and was named the No. 10 college for education in California by Niche, a popular college search site. The university also earned multiple top-100 placements nationwide, including for film and photography, performing arts, communications and political science. 

In August, it was announced that Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Studies retained its ranking as the #4 film school in the country by the Hollywood Reporter.