Chapman University Parents & Families Guide

Where Chapman sits in Orange

Chapman University is a private university in Orange, California, in the middle of Orange County. The main campus address is One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866. Chapman's driving directions bring you to the Orange Plaza traffic circle and then north on Glassell Street toward campus. Offices you will hear about early are close together on Glassell, like Student Health at the corner of Sycamore and Glassell and Student Psychological Counseling Services in the house next door. Chapman also has the Rinker Health Sciences Campus in Irvine.

Getting here from far away

Chapman's airport page puts John Wayne Airport (SNA) at 11 miles, about 20 minutes, from the Orange campus. Long Beach (LGB) is 21 miles, Ontario (ONT) is 35, and Los Angeles International (LAX) is 40, which Chapman estimates at 45 minutes to an hour by car. Orange station, served by Metrolink and the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, is a short walk from campus along Palm Avenue, so a car is optional for many visits.

Semesters with a January Interterm

Chapman runs on semesters. For 2026 to 27, fall instruction began Monday, August 24, and fall finals run December 7 to 12. A short Interterm fills January 4 to 30, and spring semester starts February 1. Spring break is March 22 to 27, and Commencement weekend is May 21 to 23, 2027.

Family Homecoming and the Parent Spring Summit

Chapman combines its fall family weekend with homecoming. Chapman Family Homecoming 2026 was scheduled for Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, with the homecoming football game against Whittier College on Saturday night at Ernie Chapman Stadium. A second family weekend, the Parent Spring Summit, is planned for February 26 to 27, 2027, with a State of the University address and breakout sessions by college.

Where your student lives

First year halls include Glass Hall, Henley Hall, Morlan Hall, Pralle-Sodaro Hall and the Sandhu Residence Center. First year students should expect a triple, on a floor with classmates from their own school or college. Chapman calls these Fenestra Living Learning Communities. Housing says first year students are required to live on campus for their first three years unless they live with family within a 30 mile radius, so you will likely deal with Residence Life for a while. Chapman Court is the new apartment community for continuing students, and the housing list also includes Chapman Grand, Panther Village, the Davis and Harris Apartments and The K.

Your first call

The Office of Parent and Family Engagement takes family questions at (714) 997-6558 or pantherfamily@chapman.edu. It sends the monthly Parent Connection newsletter and hosts summer welcome receptions, in person and virtual, for incoming families.

What else is in this hub

The other pages here cover Chapman's 2026 to 27 dates, travel and hotels around Orange, move in and move out, and local resources like health care, mail and safety, each linked to the Chapman page it came from.