- Photos
-
-
_
U.S. News Rankings
| Ranking score and category | |||||
|
|||||
Summary
Chatham University is a private institution that was founded in 1869. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 903, its setting is city, and the campus size is 427 acres. It utilizes a other-based academic calendar. Chatham University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (North), 55. Its tuition and fees are $31,532 (2012-13).
The school once known as Pennsylvania Female College is now Chatham University, a women’s college and coed graduate school in Pittsburgh. Now split into three academic divisions, the school accepts only female students to the undergraduate Chatham College for Women. Both male and female students are eligible for graduate degrees through the Chatham College for Graduate Studies and the College for Continuing and Professional Studies, which also offers non-degree and certificate programs. In total, more than 90 percent of all Chatham students are female. The university offers about 40 undergraduate degree programs, and students can also design their own major or minor. Through the Chatham Accelerated Graduate Program, students can earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. For graduate studies, students can pursue graduate health degrees, including nursing, occupational therapy, and a physician assistant program, at Chatham or a degree at the Carnegie Mellon University Heinz School of Public Policy & Management, which partners with Chatham for the accelerated program.
Outside of class, students have a variety of organizations to consider, including Social Work is Real (SWIRL), which encourages community involvement, and Communiqué, the student newspaper. The Chatham athletic teams, the Cougars, compete in the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference. All undergraduates must live on campus for their first two years of school, unless they commute from a parent’s home within 30 miles of campus. Notable alumnae of Chatham University include the late Rachel Carson, a famed environmentalist and namesake of the university’s Rachel Carson Institute, and Judy Bachrach, contributing editor of Vanity Fair.
| School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school): | |
|
Chatham University prepares students from around the world to develop solutions to some of the world's biggest challenges. Every Chatham student -- women in Chatham's historic women's residential college, and men and women in Chatham's graduate programs -- receives a highly individualized, experiential educational experience that is informed by Chatham's strong institutional commitment to globalism, the environment and citizen leadership. Founded in 1869, Chatham University includes the Shadyside Campus, with Chatham Eastside and the historic 39-acre Woodland Road arboretum; and the 388-acre Eden Hall Campus north of Pittsburgh. The University consists of three distinctive Colleges: Chatham College for Women houses academic and co-curricular programs for undergraduate women and embodies the traditions and rituals of one of the nation's oldest colleges for women. The College for Graduate Studies offers women and men both master's and doctoral programs with concentrations in interior and landscape architecture, business, counseling psychology, film, health sciences, nursing, teaching, and writing. The College for Continuing and Professional Studies provides online and hybrid undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the doctoral level for women and men, certificate programs, and community programming. Location and Environment The University's 4-4-1 academic calendar consists of fall and spring terms plus a three-week Maymester which features study abroad, concentrated study, experiential projects, travel and field experiences, internships, interdisciplinary study, and exchanges with other colleges abroad. Academic Opportunities The Accelerated Graduate Program allows undergraduates to apply to one of the University's graduate programs during her junior year, and thereby earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in as few as five years. Chatham also offers an Accelerated Graduate Program with the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Off-Campus Opportunities |
General Information
| School type | private, women's college |
| Year founded | 1869 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | other |
| Setting | city |
| 2011 Endowment | $61,243,653 |
Applying
When applying to Chatham University, it's important to note the application deadline is August 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due August 1. The application fee at Chatham University is $35. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 61.9 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 61.9% |
| Application deadline | August 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | August 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Chatham University is 10:1, and the school has 81.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Chatham University include: Health Professions and Related Programs; Psychology; Visual and Performing Arts; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 70.8 percent.
Student Life
Chatham University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 903, with a gender distribution of 5.1 percent male students and 94.9 percent female students. At this school, 16.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 84.0 percent of students live off campus. Chatham University is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 2,220 |
| Student gender distribution | |
|
|
|
| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | N/A |
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | N/A |
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Chatham University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Chatham University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Chatham University, 50 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Chatham University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 50% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | Yes |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Chatham University, 82.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $9,069.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $31,532 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $9,692 (2012-13) |
| Financial aid statistics | |
|
|
|
* Overview details based on 2011 data
