Robert Hitchcock
Chapman University and Santiago Canyon College have entered into a new Transfer Admission Guarantee agreement designed to expand transfer opportunities for local students and strengthen pathways from community college to a four-year university degree.
Beginning with students entering Chapman in Fall 2026, the agreement creates a more structured transfer pathway for eligible SCC students pursuing approved majors at Chapman. The partnership also includes coordinated outreach efforts with Orange Unified School District to help students and families better understand transfer opportunities and available support resources earlier in their academic journey.
Providing Student Support
The agreement streamlines the transfer process by aligning coursework, expanding advising access, and increasing collaboration between the institutions on transfer workshops, campus tours, information sessions and financial aid outreach.
“Chapman is committed to making higher education available to the best and brightest students,” said Mike Ibba, executive vice president, provost and chief academic officer of Chapman University. “That’s why I’m excited about this agreement, because I think it has the potential to enrich us academically with great transfer students.”
The expanded partnership also includes waived application fees for eligible students, merit scholarship consideration for qualifying transfer students, dedicated transfer advising and enhanced collaboration between counselors and admissions teams at both institutions.
Expanding Academic Opportunities
The new agreement builds on a partnership established in 2019 between Chapman and Santiago Canyon College that created a transfer pathway for students pursuing careers in education. The expanded agreement now includes 14 majors across a range of academic disciplines.
Eligible students may pursue Bachelor of Science degrees in biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, environmental science and policy, mathematics, physics, health sciences, accounting and business administration, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology, communication studies, global communication and world languages, strategic communication and economics.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment between the two institutions to increase college access, strengthen transfer success and create educational opportunities that support students from high school through university completion.
