Chatham vs. Penn State

Deciding between Chatham University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chatham Pittsburgh, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Chatham Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Chatham 2,309
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Chatham Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chatham #265
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chatham -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Chatham Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chatham
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Chatham $13,600
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Chatham $31,280
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chatham $30,095
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chatham 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chatham 3,446
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Chatham 2,135
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chatham 62%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Chatham 12.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chatham 1180
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chatham 25
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chatham 3.86
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chatham A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chatham Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chatham Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Chatham 21/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Chatham 1070/1295
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chatham Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Chatham
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Chatham 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Chatham
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chatham 60%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chatham $36,700
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chatham 62%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chatham $20,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chatham $211
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chatham 26%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Chatham 74%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chatham Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Chatham No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Chatham 72%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Chatham 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Chatham 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chatham 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Chatham 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chatham 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chatham 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Chatham 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chatham 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chatham 62%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chatham 36%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Chatham based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,309 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chatham University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Chatham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chatham University 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Chatham vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chatham or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Chatham ($27,889 vs. $31,280).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chatham University are 6% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,600 vs. $14,474).
  • Chatham University is 116.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $23,982 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Chatham than at Penn State Main Campus (about $2,836 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chatham University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 165.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($30,095 vs. $11,336).

Chatham vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chatham or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Chatham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 150 points higher than at Chatham (1180).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Chatham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 1070/1295; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 21/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chatham - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Chatham has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Chatham vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Chatham vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chatham and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Chatham University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $18,600 more per year than Chatham graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chatham University graduates have a $6,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Chatham graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($211 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.