Chatham vs. SU

Should I go to Chatham University or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Chatham or SU 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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Chatham University vs. Shenandoah University comparison
Chatham University Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
Chatham University Shenandoah University
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Overview

Chatham SU
Location Pittsburgh, PA Winchester, VA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 2,387 4,260
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #288 #537
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website chatham.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Chatham SU
Tuition (In State) $40,625 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $40,625 $33,790
Room & Board $12,719 $11,230
Avg Net Price $28,322 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $27,330 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Chatham SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,514 2,296
Admitted 2,331 1,845
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 80.4%
Enrolled % 13.1% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 19/26
SAT Range 1060/1270 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Chatham SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Chatham SU
Graduation Rate 60% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $258

Diversity

Chatham SU
% Men 25% 32%
% Women 75% 68%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 59%
% Black 10% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 13%

Students

Chatham SU
% In-State 70% 52%
% Out-of-State 26% 48%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shenandoah University is larger than than Chatham based on total student enrollment (4,260 students vs. 2,387 students)

Chatham vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chatham or SU?

  • Chatham University is 20.2% more expensive to attend than SU for in-state tuition ($40,625.00 vs. $33,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.2% higher at Chatham than Shenandoah University ($40,625.00 vs. $33,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shenandoah University than Chatham ($26,143 vs. $28,322)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 13.3% lower than costs at Chatham University ($11,230 vs. $12,719)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Chatham University as Shenandoah University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 16.5% larger than aid received Shenandoah University ($27,330 vs. $23,467)

Chatham vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SU (3.7)
  • SU has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than Chatham (66.3%)

Chatham vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Chatham or SU? 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 SU and Chatham.

  • The graduation rate at Chatham is higher than Shenandoah University (60% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $11,600 more per year than Chatham graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $36,700)
  • Chatham University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Chatham graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More Chatham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 60%)

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