Chatham University

Pittsburgh, PA 1,232 Undergrads 69.0% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$61,261

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$29,954

After Aid

Median Earnings

$65,078

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$29,954

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$65,078

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate69.0%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients26.2%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time92.9%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS74.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

62.0%

SAT Avg

1,198

SAT Reading

25th: 550-75th: 670

SAT Math

25th: 520-75th: 625

ACT Composite

25th: 21-75th: 30

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$576k

+$109k

+$92k

Median Cost$30k/yr

+$468k

+$1k

-$16k

Full Cost$61k/yr

+$355k

-$111k

-$129k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$30k/yr

Never

-15%

Full Cost$61k/yr

Never

-58%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-18%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-68%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

BachCIP: 5010

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,240

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$24,563

Earnings (4yr)

$65,750

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$11k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$19,500

Earnings (4yr)

$42,204

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$205k

Criminology

BachCIP: 4504

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,556

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis

BachCIP: 3026

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $40,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

BachCIP: 2613

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,842

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies

BachCIP: 3023

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,907

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Interior Architecture

BachCIP: 0405

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$32,382

Natl Median: $60,369

Lifetime Value Added

-$278k

International/Globalization Studies

BachCIP: 3020

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,972

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Management Information Systems and Services

BachCIP: 5212

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $83,290

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics and Statistics, Other

BachCIP: 2799

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $88,839

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$20,250

Earnings (4yr)

$56,980

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$81k

Public Health

BachCIP: 5122

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,808

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Policy Analysis

BachCIP: 4405

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,721

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$14,093

Earnings (4yr)

$86,034

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$144k

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

BachCIP: 2313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,471

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Social Work

BachCIP: 4407

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,790

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

$25,587

Earnings (4yr)

$73,633

Natl Median: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

+$49k

Sustainability Studies

BachCIP: 3033

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,887

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$48,432

Natl Median: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

-$258k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

MastCIP: 5109

Median Debt

$136,482

Earnings (4yr)

$120,476

Natl Median: $127,347

Lifetime Value Added

+$364k

Architectural Sciences and Technology

MastCIP: 0409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $77,466

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

MastCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$41,271

Earnings (4yr)

$67,992

Natl Median: $69,830

Lifetime Value Added

-$95k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$36,163

Earnings (5yr)

$89,095

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

+$74k

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other

MastCIP: 5299

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $96,656

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

MastCIP: 4228

Median Debt

$61,500

Earnings (4yr)

$55,034

Natl Median: $65,184

Lifetime Value Added

-$214k

Communication and Media Studies

MastCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $71,953

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer and Information Sciences, General

MastCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $124,201

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

MastCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,486

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

MastCIP: 1905

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,523

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Interior Architecture

MastCIP: 0405

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,993

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Agriculture

MastCIP: 0107

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$33,993

Natl Median: $60,869

Lifetime Value Added

-$406k

Psychology, General

MastCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$48,768

Earnings (2yr)

$34,526

Natl Median: $64,711

Lifetime Value Added

-$400k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

MastCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $120,193

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

MastCIP: 5123

Median Debt

$69,017

Earnings (4yr)

$71,403

Natl Median: $71,416

Lifetime Value Added

-$65k

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

MastCIP: 2313

Median Debt

$37,450

Earnings (4yr)

$48,110

Natl Median: $55,035

Lifetime Value Added

-$280k

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sustainability Studies

MastCIP: 3033

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,897

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$55,059

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

-$214k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Psychology, General

DocCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $98,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$30,489

Earnings (4yr)

$152,458

Natl Median: $138,131

Lifetime Value Added

+$373k

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

DocCIP: 5123

Median Debt

$71,750

Earnings (4yr)

$79,353

Natl Median: $82,893

Lifetime Value Added

-$167k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.