Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Chatham University

Chatham's nursing program costs slightly less than typical Pennsylvania nursing schools, but graduates earn about $8,000 less annually than the state median—landing near the middle of Pennsylvania's 52 nursing programs but below the national median. First-year earnings of $70,404 trail not just top programs like Villanova and Drexel (both around $86,000), but also the average Pennsylvania nursing graduate by roughly 10%. With manageable debt of $27,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 keeps this program financially viable, though the modest 7% earnings growth to year four suggests compensation plateaus relatively quickly.

The real question is whether Chatham's lower cost justifies the earnings gap. For families targeting Pennsylvania's higher-paying nursing markets in Philadelphia or suburban systems, this program's outcomes may feel limiting. The 40th percentile state ranking means six in ten Pennsylvania nursing programs produce better early-career earnings. However, the moderate sample size warrants some caution—outcomes could shift as more data emerges.

If your child is committed to staying in Pittsburgh and values Chatham's smaller environment, the numbers work without creating dangerous debt levels. But for families purely focused on ROI, Pennsylvania offers stronger nursing programs at similar or lower debt levels that consistently produce $80,000+ starting salaries.