PennWest California vs. Chatham

Should I go to PennWest California or Chatham University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PennWest California or Chatham is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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PennWest California vs. Chatham University comparison
PennWest California Chatham University College 3 College 4
PennWest California Chatham University
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Overview

PennWest California Chatham
Location California, PA Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 6,509 2,387
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #288
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu chatham.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California Chatham
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $40,625
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $40,625
Room & Board $10,416 $12,719
Avg Net Price - $28,322
Avg Grant Aid $0 $27,330
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 100%

Admission

PennWest California Chatham
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 3,514
Admitted - 2,331
Acceptance Rate 66.3%
Enrolled % 13.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.86
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 21/29
SAT Range 940/1150 1060/1270
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California Chatham
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

PennWest California Chatham
Graduation Rate 53% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $211

Diversity

PennWest California Chatham
% Men 39% 25%
% Women 61% 75%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 72%
% Black 12% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

PennWest California Chatham
% In-State 86% 70%
% Out-of-State 13% 26%

Campus

PennWest California Chatham
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Chatham based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 2,387 students)

PennWest California vs. Chatham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Chatham?

  • Chatham University is 426.5% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($40,625.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 251% higher at Chatham than PennWest California ($40,625.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 22.1% lower than costs at Chatham University ($10,416 vs. $12,719)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chatham University than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($27,330 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Chatham? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Chatham or PennWest California .

  • Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. Chatham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or Chatham? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Chatham and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at Chatham is higher than PennWest California (60% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $5,800 more per year than Chatham graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $36,700)
  • Chatham University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Chatham graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/