Chatham vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Chatham based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 2,309 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chatham University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Chatham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chatham University 10:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

Chatham vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chatham or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie Behrend College than Chatham ($23,764 vs. $31,280).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chatham University are 6% lower than at Penn State Erie Behrend College ($13,600 vs. $14,474).
• Chatham University is 179.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $28,654 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.5% higher at Chatham than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $17,668 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chatham University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 179.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($30,095 vs. $10,760).

Chatham vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chatham or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie-Behrend College and Chatham.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Erie Behrend College (1220) is 40 points higher than at Chatham (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Chatham).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 1070/1295; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 21/30; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chatham - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Chatham (62%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Chatham vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

Chatham vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chatham and Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Chatham University's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Chatham graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($211 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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.