Where does student tuition really go?

Illustration by Zoe Wren Arntsen, Illustrator

Chapman’s price tag puts it in the company of some of the country’s most expensive universities. But why is Chapman so expensive? And do students understand what their tuition is going towards? 

“The school has never explicitly explained where our tuition is allocated, but I do believe we have a lot more access to resources and opportunities that I would not receive if I was at a larger university,” junior biological sciences major Leia Michel said. 

As of September 2026, Business Insider ranked New York University (NYU) 25th, with tuition at $68,578 and a total of $95,014, including housing. Chapman’s tuition is technically higher: one year of tuition costs $69,990 and can rise to $85,608 with housing. The average cost of tuition and fees in 2025-2026 for a private college was $44,961, lower than both NYU and Chapman.

Chapman’s website lays out the estimated cost of attendance, with categories such as tuition, housing and added fees. But it’s a lot harder to find a breakdown of where that cost really goes. 

“I don’t know what my tuition is allocated for,” liberal studies major Caedmon Serrano said. “I assume student events, salary of teachers, etc. I know there is the running joke at our school whenever fireworks are shot off: ‘Oh, there goes my tuition.’”

According to Bob Hitchcock, director of strategic communications, tuition accounts for approximately 80% of Chapman’s total operating budget. That money supports what the university describes as a comprehensive, personalized education experience. 

“This includes the breadth of our high-caliber academic and co-curricular programs and services, our world-class facilities, our dedicated personnel (faculty and staff),” said Hitchcock.

He also pointed to the small learning environment as a defining feature of the Chapman experience. 

“Chapman’s highly personalized learning environment—anchored by small class sizes, a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and unrivaled career, internship and networking opportunities— defines the quality of the Chapman experience,” Hitchcock said.

Even with this information, there still isn’t a clear breakdown that helps students grasp exactly how much of their money goes to which resources. 

“I definitely think it is important that Chapman is more transparent about where our tuition is being used, which creates a stronger trust between students and the school,” Michel said.  

Additionally, Hitchcock highlighted another program tuition goes towards: financial aid. 

“Our institutional financial aid program makes a Chapman education accessible to students from a broad range of financial backgrounds,” Hitchcock said.

Chapman provides over $215 million in financial aid to students, according to the university’s website, with approximately 80% of undergraduates receiving some aid. The average award is more than $34,600 per undergraduate student.

Michel, who relies on that financial aid, said her tuition varies each year. 

“Every year of my undergrad has fluctuated in price, from grants being increased or decreased or tuition being hiked up; my tuition has never been the same, which has been frustrating,” Michel said. “I feel like I am struggling harder to get information on my financial aid package and the next steps needed in the process.”

Serrano said that knowing about her tuition costs is a constant worry for her family. 

“All my family helps pay my tuition (grandma, uncle, parents) so I need to know how much so I can talk to everyone about how they can help me,” she said.

Students say they need more consistent financial aid offerings, or at least more transparency about those changes. 

“The one thing I wish I could change about the way Chapman handles finances is the communication and efficiency of the financial aid office,” Michel said. 

Though she has experienced much frustration with the lack of transparency in financial aid processes, Michel believes Chapman still has valuable resources for the price, explaining that the Learning and Tutoring Center and study abroad opportunities were invaluable to her college experience.

As tuition continues to be an ever-larger investment for students and families, understanding the return on that investment may be even more important than just knowing its total cost.