Chatham vs. JMU

Deciding between Chatham University and James Madison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Chatham University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chatham Pittsburgh, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Chatham Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Chatham 2,309
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Chatham Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chatham #265
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chatham -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Chatham Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chatham
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Chatham $13,600
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Chatham $31,280
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chatham $30,095
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chatham 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chatham 3,446
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Chatham 2,135
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chatham 62%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Chatham 12.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chatham 1180
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chatham 25
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chatham 3.86
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chatham A
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chatham Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chatham Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Chatham 21/30
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Chatham 1070/1295
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chatham Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Chatham
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Chatham 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Chatham
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chatham 60%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chatham $36,700
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chatham 62%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chatham $20,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chatham $211
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chatham 26%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Chatham 74%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chatham Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Chatham No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Chatham 72%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Chatham 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Chatham 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chatham 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Chatham 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chatham 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chatham 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Chatham 3%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chatham 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chatham 62%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chatham 36%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Chatham Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Chatham No
  • JMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Chatham Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Chatham No
  • JMU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Chatham No
  • JMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than Chatham based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,309 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chatham University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Chatham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chatham University 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Chatham vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chatham or JMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Chatham ($18,856 vs. $31,280).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 4% lower than at Chatham University ($13,056 vs. $13,600).
  • Chatham University is 213.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $30,376 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.2% higher at Chatham than at James Madison University (about $13,022 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chatham University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 148.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($30,095 vs. $12,114).

Chatham vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chatham or JMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JMU and Chatham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 80 points higher than at Chatham (1180).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Chatham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 1070/1295; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 21/30; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chatham - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Chatham (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Chatham vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Chatham vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chatham and JMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Chatham University's (60%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $23,600 more per year than Chatham graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chatham University graduates have a $399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Chatham graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($211 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.