Chatham vs. VMI

Deciding between Chatham University and Virginia Military Institute? 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
Virginia Military Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Chatham Pittsburgh, PA
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • Chatham Large City
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Chatham 2,309
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • Chatham Private 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Chatham #265
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Chatham -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • Chatham Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Chatham
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Chatham $44,626
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • Chatham $13,600
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • Chatham $31,280
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Chatham $30,095
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Chatham 100%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Chatham 3,446
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • Chatham 2,135
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Chatham 62%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Chatham 12.7%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Chatham 1180
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Chatham 25
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Chatham 3.86
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Chatham A
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Chatham Challenging
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Chatham Low
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Chatham 21/30
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Chatham 1070/1295
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Chatham Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Chatham
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Chatham 10:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Chatham
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Chatham 60%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Chatham $36,700
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Chatham 62%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Chatham $20,500
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Chatham $211
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Chatham 26%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • Chatham 74%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Chatham Low
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • Chatham No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • Chatham 72%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • Chatham 2%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • Chatham 10%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Chatham 5%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • Chatham 1%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Chatham 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Chatham 2%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • Chatham 3%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Chatham 5%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Chatham 62%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Chatham 36%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chatham University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (2,309 students vs. 1,527 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chatham University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Chatham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chatham University 10:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Chatham vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chatham or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than Chatham ($18,825 vs. $31,280).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 16.8% lower than at Chatham University ($11,310 vs. $13,600).
  • Chatham University is 112% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $23,580 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $21,046.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at VMI than at Chatham University (about $8,012 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $44,626.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chatham University than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 26.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($30,095 vs. $23,821).

Chatham vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chatham or VMI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VMI and Chatham.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Chatham University (1180) is 20 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Chatham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Chatham University 1070/1295; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Chatham University 21/30; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Chatham - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Chatham students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at VMI (3.65).
  • VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than Chatham (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Chatham vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Chatham vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chatham and VMI? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Chatham University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $25,400 more per year than Chatham graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chatham University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Chatham graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($211 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.