At $25,717/yr net price, Chatham University graduates earn $52,410/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $18,410/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $25,717 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $102,868 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,410/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$18,410/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,839/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,621/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,983/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,245/yr |
| $110,001+ | $27,814/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $126,504 | $30,489 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $91,744 | $136,482 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $71,930 | $71,750 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $67,180 | $14,093 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $58,221 | $36,163 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $57,110 | $69,017 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $48,432 | |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $37,720 | $61,500 |
| Biology, General. | Master | $35,982 | $41,271 |
| Psychology, General. | Master | $34,526 | $48,768 |
The Risk Factor
66.2% of students at Chatham University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 34% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Chatham University gives you a middle-of-the-road financial return that leans heavily on which program you pick. The median graduate earns just over $52,000 ten years out against a net price near $26,000 per year, so you're paying private-nonprofit prices for outcomes that depend almost entirely on your major. Debt at graduation stays moderate, and the 66% graduation rate means most of you finish, which protects you from the worst outcome of paying for a degree you never get.
Nursing is where the money is at Chatham. It pays more than double what the interior architecture and psychology programs return, and it does so while leaving you with the lowest debt of the three listed programs. If you enter Chatham for nursing, the math works: Pittsburgh's hospital systems hire steadily, and the earnings back up the cost.
Interior architecture and psychology are the warning signs. Both leave graduates earning around $30,000 to $32,000, which is below the campus-wide median and well under what you'd pay in net price over four years. Psychology carries $20,000 in debt against those low earnings, so you'd be borrowing against a career that doesn't pay it back quickly. If either is your plan, know that a bachelor's alone won't move the salary much and you'll likely need graduate school to make the numbers close.
The net price tiers stay flat across incomes. Families under $48,000 pay around $20,700, while families over $110,000 pay about $27,800 , a gap of only $7,000. Lower-income families don't get the steep discounts some private schools offer, so if you're paying from limited means, Chatham costs more relative to your budget than the sticker suggests. Come here for nursing. look harder elsewhere if you want a low-paying major.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chatham University worth the cost?
Chatham University's value depends heavily on your major. Nursing graduates earn strong salaries that justify the $25,717 annual net price, but other programs show weaker returns on investment.
What are the best paying majors at Chatham University?
Nursing programs at Chatham University lead to the highest earnings, with some specializations reaching $126,504 annually. Allied health and rehabilitation programs also show solid returns at $91,744 and $71,930 respectively.
How much debt do Chatham University graduates have?
Chatham University graduates leave with a median debt of $23,250, which is manageable for nursing majors but may be challenging for lower-earning programs. The 10-year median earnings of $52,410 suggest debt-to-income ratios vary significantly by field of study.
Does Chatham University have good financial aid?
Chatham University's net price of $25,717 represents significant aid from the sticker price. However, with a 66% graduation rate, about one-third of students don't complete their degrees, making careful program selection important.