Chatham vs. SU

Deciding between Chatham University and Southwestern 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
Southwestern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chatham Pittsburgh, PA
  • SU Georgetown, TX
  • Setting
  • Chatham Large City
  • SU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Chatham 2,309
  • SU 1,440
  • Type
  • Chatham Private 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chatham #265
  • SU #196
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chatham -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Chatham Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chatham
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • SU $53,813
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • SU $53,813
  • Room & Board
  • Chatham $13,600
  • SU $15,072
  • Average Net Price
  • Chatham $31,280
  • SU $32,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chatham $30,095
  • SU $35,162
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chatham 100%
  • SU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chatham 3,446
  • SU 6,313
  • Admitted
  • Chatham 2,135
  • SU 2,718
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chatham 62%
  • SU 43.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Chatham 12.7%
  • SU 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chatham 1180
  • SU 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chatham 25
  • SU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chatham 3.86
  • SU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chatham A
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chatham Challenging
  • SU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chatham Low
  • SU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Chatham 21/30
  • SU 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • Chatham 1070/1295
  • SU 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chatham Test optional
  • SU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Chatham
  • SU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chatham 60%
  • SU 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chatham $36,700
  • SU $57,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chatham 62%
  • SU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chatham $20,500
  • SU $26,893
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chatham $211
  • SU $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chatham 26%
  • SU 45%
  • % Women
  • Chatham 74%
  • SU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chatham Low
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Chatham No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • Chatham 72%
  • SU 62%
  • % Asian
  • Chatham 2%
  • SU 4%
  • % Black
  • Chatham 10%
  • SU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chatham 5%
  • SU 22%
  • % Native American
  • Chatham 1%
  • SU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chatham 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chatham 2%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • Chatham 3%
  • SU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chatham 5%
  • SU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chatham 62%
  • SU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chatham 36%
  • SU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA with Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chatham University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (2,309 students vs. 1,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chatham University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Southwestern University is in Georgetown, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Chatham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chatham University 10:1; Southwestern University 11:1.

Chatham vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chatham or SU? 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 Chatham University than SU ($31,280 vs. $32,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chatham University are 9.8% lower than at Southwestern University ($13,600 vs. $15,072).
  • Southwestern University is 20.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chatham (about $9,187 more per year; $53,813.00 vs. $44,626.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.6% higher at SU than at Chatham University (about $9,187 more per year; $53,813.00 vs. $44,626.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chatham University than at Southwestern University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 16.8% larger than aid received by Chatham University students ($35,162 vs. $30,095).

Chatham vs. SU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwestern University (1220) is 40 points higher than at Chatham (1180).
  • Incoming SU 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; Southwestern University 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chatham University 21/30; Southwestern University 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chatham - Test optional; SU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SU (3.5).
  • Chatham has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than SU (43.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Chatham vs. 13.8% at SU.

Chatham vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chatham and SU? 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).

  • Southwestern University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Chatham University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn a median of about $20,700 more per year than Chatham graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,400 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chatham University graduates have a $6,393 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,893).
  • Among borrowers, Chatham graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($211 vs. $278).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.