Chapman University

Chapman University is a private research university located in Orange, California. Founded in 1861 as Hesperian College, it traces its roots to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and later evolved through several name and structural changes before becoming Chapman University in 1991. The university offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines such as business, film and media arts, law, education, health sciences, and the humanities. Chapman is known for its Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and its growing research activity. Students are often drawn to Chapman University for its midsize campus environment, personalized academic approach, and location in Southern California.

Chapman University was founded on March 4, 1861, as Hesperian College in Woodland, California, by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The institution opened at the hour of Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration and was among the early California colleges to admit both men and women. In 1863, James M. Martin became the first president of Hesperian College. After merging with other Disciples institutions, the school became Berkeley Bible Seminary in 1896 and later moved to Southern California, operating as California Christian College in the early twentieth century. In 1934, it was renamed Chapman College in honor of benefactor Charles C. Chapman. The institution relocated to Orange, California, in 1954 and expanded its academic programs in the decades that followed. In 1991, Chapman College officially became Chapman University, reflecting its growth into a comprehensive private research university.