In this study, the production of ethyl levulinate from chitosan using successive acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and esterification was investigated. To optimize and analysis the reaction factors and heir reciprocal interaction, response surface methodology was introduced. In the effect of water content in ethanol solvent, the production yield of ethyl levulinate was high at 5% water content (or 95% ethanol). As a result of optimization of reaction factors, 30.1% ethyl levulinate yield was obtained under the condition of 200 °C, 3.19% chitosan, 0.49M sulfuric acid, 5% water content, and 58 min. Finally, the formation yield of ethyl levulinate was tended to enhance by increase of combined severity factor. This result indicated that the potential of chitosan as feedstock for production of chemicals and fuels.