by our College Data Analytics TeamThis guide covers the real cost of attending Chatham University, including attendance costs, projected four- and two-year degree costs, average net price, debt outcomes, and how aid is distributed across income levels.
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What it costs to attend Chatham University amounts to about $56,981.00 annually.
Below, the published cost is shown three ways — the full sticker price with no aid, the net price after the average grant package, and the net price for low-income students who typically receive the most aid.
| Tuition and fees | $44,626.00 |
| + Room, board & other expenses | $12,355.00 |
| Total cost | $56,981.00 |
| That is 74% above the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $56,981.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$31,307.00 |
| Net price | $25,674.00 |
| That is 22% below the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $56,981.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$38,586.00 |
| Net price | $18,395.00 |
| That is 44% below the national average net price. | |
| Explore each piece on the tuition & fees page plus room and board. |
Cost of attendance here has been rising at a recent average of 3.0% a year, so a full degree will cost more than a single year — the tables below carry that forward. The detailed projections below compare a degree for a low-income aided student, an average-aid student, and a no-aid student. The repayment figures use a ten-year loan at 6.8%.
| Projected 4-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Freshman year | $18,942.00 | $26,437.00 | $58,674.00 |
| Senior year | $20,681.00 | $28,865.00 | $64,063.00 |
| Total 4-year net price | $79,212.00 | $110,556.00 | $245,369.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $30,177.00 | $42,118.00 | $93,477.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $912.00 | $1,272.00 | $2,824.00 |
| Total amount paid | $109,388.00 | $152,674.00 | $338,846.00 |
| Projected 2-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Freshman year | $18,942.00 | $26,437.00 | $58,674.00 |
| Senior year | $19,505.00 | $27,223.00 | $60,418.00 |
| Total 2-year net price | $38,446.00 | $53,660.00 | $119,093.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $14,647.00 | $20,442.00 | $45,370.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $442.00 | $618.00 | $1,371.00 |
| Total amount paid | $53,093.00 | $74,102.00 | $164,463.00 |
See the full net-price breakdown in the net-price section.
Net price strips out grant and scholarship aid to show what families really pay. For most prospective students, net price gives a more realistic estimate than sticker tuition.
| Average net price (on-campus) | $29,954.00 |
| Average net price (off-campus) | $25,717.00 |
Net price is not the same for every family — it falls as financial need rises and grant aid increases. Below, average net price is broken out by family income:
| Family income | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $20,839.00 |
| $30,000 to $48,000 | $20,621.00 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $22,983.00 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $26,245.00 |
| Over $110,000 | $27,814.00 |
Estimate your specific net price using the school’s [Chatham University Net Price Calculator](https://tcc.ruffalonl.com/Chatham University/First-Year Students), or get in touch with the financial aid office.
Want to know how that aid is awarded? See the financial aid page.
The typical debt load for borrowers leaving Chatham University comes to $18,326.00, placing the school in the Low ($10-20k) debt-load classification.
The percentile spread of debt at graduation is shown below:
| Percentile | Debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| 10th | $3,250.00 |
| 25th | $6,250.00 |
| Median (50th) | $18,326.00 |
| 75th | $25,000.00 |
| 90th | $31,000.00 |
The distance from the 10th to the 90th percentile shows how widely debt outcomes vary.
For the full borrowing and repayment picture, see the student loan debt page.
Median debt at graduation differs meaningfully across income brackets. Below the data splits borrowers across three income groups:
| Family income | Median debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| Low income | $16,750.00 |
| Middle income | $18,750.00 |
| High income | $19,000.00 |
First-generation students frequently graduate with different debt than continuing-generation students.
| Student group | Median debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $18,500.00 |
| Continuing-generation students | $17,000.00 |
First-gen borrowers at Chatham University carry $1,500.00 in additional median debt versus continuing-generation peers.
Pell Grant eligibility is a useful proxy for low-income status among undergraduates. Comparing Pell recipients vs non-recipients shows how debt is distributed by need.
The gap between Pell-eligible and non-Pell median debt at Chatham University works out to $2,416.00. This institution is flagged by federal data for Pell-debt inequity.
The default-rate category at Chatham University is Low (<5%).
| Window | Cohort default rate |
|---|---|
| 2-year | 1.8% |
For a sense of scale, Stafford disbursements at Chatham University come to $324,111,389.00 covering 9,591 disbursements.
Veterans and active-duty service members may qualify for substantial federal education benefits including the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Department of Defense Tuition Assistance.
| GI Bill recipients | 40 |
| Avg GI Bill amount | $13,113.00 |
| DoD Tuition Assistance recipients | 4 |
| Avg DoD Tuition Assistance | $2,938.00 |
Explore GI Bill and military aid in detail on the veteran aid breakdown.
Use the figures above as a launch point, then think through Chatham University, a few questions are worth asking:
For a closer look at any of these topics, follow the links below:
Data sources. Figures on this page draw from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and MediaFactual editorial review. Net-price calculator and financial-aid office links are taken from the institution’s own published data.