Chatham University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,232 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value11
Affordability19
Selectivity66
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 62%, Chatham University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
62%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1295
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Chatham University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
7.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Chatham University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,954 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,954
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$44,626
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,600
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,800
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,261
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,675
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,086
$48,001 – $75,000
$26,051
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,120
Over $110,000
$33,636
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,916
↓ $4,334
No Pell $16,500
↓ $6,750
Dependent students $18,563
↓ $4,687
Independent students $16,750
↓ $6,500
Female students $18,750
↓ $4,500
Male students $15,750
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
70% of full-time students who enrolled at Chatham University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
70%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Chatham University earn a median of $52,410 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,410
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
23.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Chatham University is home to 1,232 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,232
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.4%941
Black 7.8%96
Hispanic 5.8%71
Asian 3.8%47
International 2.8%35
Other 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Chatham University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential757 beds on campus
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Chatham University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
56 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Chatham University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$132M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,622
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
135 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
20
15%
$89,077
Associate Professors
46
34%
$73,341
Assistant Professors
67
50%
$65,833
Instructors
2
1%
$51,500
Pros & Cons of Chatham University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Chatham University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Chatham University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chatham University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Chatham University.
Is Chatham University hard to get into?
Admissions at Chatham University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 62%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Chatham University?
Chatham University has an acceptance rate of 62%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Chatham University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Chatham University scored between 1070 and 1295 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Chatham University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Chatham University scored between 21 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Chatham University cost?
The average net price after aid at Chatham University is $29,954 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Chatham University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,410 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,954 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Chatham University known for?
Chatham University is best known for its programs in Rehabilitation, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Chatham University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Chatham University are $52,410, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Chatham University accredited?
Yes. Chatham University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Chatham University?
Chatham University enrolls 1,232 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Chatham University?
Chatham University graduates 70% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Chatham University a public or private college?
Chatham University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Chatham University located?
Chatham University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Chatham University offer?
Chatham University offers 56 distinct programs. The most popular include Rehabilitation, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Chatham University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Chatham University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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