Chatham University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 62.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 39/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Chatham University scores 39 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, reflecting a difficult combination of high cost and weak earnings outcomes. Sticker tuition of $44,626 produces a net price of $29,954 and a 4-year total cost of $119,816. The payback period of 14.9 years is the single most damning figure here: graduates take nearly 15 years before earnings cover the total investment. Median debt of $23,250 at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.651 compounds the picture. The 63.1% completion rate means over a third of enrolled students do not graduate, leaving them with debt and no credential. Registered Nursing (16 graduates, $70,404 year-one, $86,034 year-four) and Kinesiology (25 graduates, $73,633 year-four) are the program standouts with B-grade ROI. Biology (34 graduates, $65,750 year-four, B-grade) also performs respectably. The humanities and creative programs pull the aggregate down hard: Sustainability Studies graduates earned just $18,954 at year one, and Fine and Studio Arts carries a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.298 (ROI grade F). Chatham's small enrollment of 1,232 and its Pittsburgh, PA location shape a niche liberal arts identity, but the financial case outside of health science programs is difficult to sustain at current pricing. The repayment rate of 68.3% at year three signals borrower stress across the student body.
How Chatham University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score39/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Chatham University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,626/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,626/yr |
| Average net price | $29,954/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $119,816 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,410 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,232 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $44,626/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,954/year, or roughly $119,816 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,675/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,636/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,700) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,675 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,086 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,051 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,120 |
| $110,001+ | $33,636 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $22,675 net price per year at Chatham - $90,700 total over four years against an average 6-year earnings of $35,700. That is a severe ratio. Low-income students who complete a health science program at Chatham can reach earnings that justify the investment, but the 63% completion rate means a meaningful share of students from this bracket leave with debt and no degree. Low-income applicants should model worst-case scenarios carefully before enrolling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the 48001-75000 bracket pay $26,051 per year, with the 75001-110000 band paying $30,120 - net prices that offer little relief from the $44,626 sticker tuition. The compressed aid schedule means middle-income families subsidize the institution almost as much as higher-income families do. Against average 6-year earnings of $35,700, a $26,000-$30,000 annual net price requires a high degree of confidence in a health-program outcome to make financial sense.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families (110001-plus) pay $33,636 per year at Chatham - $134,544 over four years. At a payback period of 14.9 years and average 6-year earnings of $35,700, the full-pay case is financially very weak unless the student is targeting nursing or another high-earning program. Full-pay students would need a specific program rationale.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Chatham University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $56,980 | C |
| Biology | $65,750 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $73,633 | B |
| Sustainability Studies | $18,954 | - |
| Interior Architecture | $45,785 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $86,034 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $42,204 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Chatham's strongest ROI program: 16 graduates, $70,404 median earnings at year one, $86,034 at year four, median debt of $27,000, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.384 (ROI grade B). Nursing is the clearest financial case at Chatham - graduates enter a stable labor market with strong near-term earnings that cover debt within a reasonable timeframe. The caveat is program size: 16 graduates per cohort is small, which may reflect capacity constraints. For prospective health-track students, this program delivers what the overall CampusROI score does not.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (25 graduates) reaches $73,633 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.359 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings were not reported for this cohort, but the four-year figure is strong for the field and suggests graduates are entering physical therapy, sports medicine, or allied health roles that pay well. Median debt of $26,453 is manageable against a $73,633 four-year figure.
Biology
Biology (34 graduates) earns $65,750 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.403 (ROI grade B). The four-year figure likely reflects a pre-professional pipeline - medical school, pharmacy, or allied health - rather than direct biology employment. Year-one earnings were not reported, which limits visibility into the immediate post-graduation trajectory. Biology is a viable choice at Chatham for students with a clear professional school plan.
Psychology
Psychology (35 graduates) earns $37,601 at year one and $56,980 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.581 (ROI grade C). Against a net price of nearly $30,000 per year, a year-one median of $37,601 leaves graduates in a structurally difficult position on debt repayment. The four-year recovery to $56,980 is moderate improvement but does not close the gap opened by high borrowing. Psychology is Chatham's most common major by graduate volume but is the weakest ROI choice relative to available health science alternatives.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Chatham University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 62.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-625 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,232 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,160 |
With a 62% admission rate, Chatham is moderately selective. Admission is accessible for most qualified applicants. The financial aid packaging matters more than admission selectivity for prospective students: net price ranges from $22,675 for the lowest income band to $33,636 for the highest, a compressed schedule that offers limited relief to middle- and upper-income families.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham University (this school) | 39 | $29,954 | $52,410 |
| Agnes Scott College | 45 | $24,754 | $56,274 |
| Sweet Briar College | 44 | $17,758 | $51,943 |
| Meredith College | 43 | $22,488 | $51,539 |
| Brenau University | 41 | $18,924 | $54,003 |
| Salem College | 26 | $18,277 | $44,640 |
Who Thrives Here
Chatham admits 62% of applicants with a mid-range SAT of 520-625 Math and 550-670 Reading; ACT 21-30 composite. At 1,232 students it is a genuinely small campus, historically women-centered with graduate programs in sustainability and health. Pell grant rate of 21.8% is moderate. Students who fit Chatham best are those pursuing the health science tracks - nursing, kinesiology, biology pre-professional - where outcomes justify the cost. Students choosing humanities, arts, or communications programs face a steep ROI challenge.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Chatham University scores 39/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $29,954 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $52,410 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 14.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Chatham University: Common Questions
Is Chatham University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Chatham University scores 39/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $29,954 a year after aid against $52,410 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 14.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Chatham University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $29,954 a year, or roughly $119,816 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Chatham University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,410 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,610 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Chatham University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 14.9 years for Chatham University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Chatham University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $35,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Chatham University?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.