Head-to-head comparison
Chatham University vs Geneva College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pittsburgh, PA
Chatham University
- Net price / year
- $29,954
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,410
- Payback
- 29.6 yrs
Option B Beaver Falls, PA
Geneva College
- Net price / year
- $25,890
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,004
- Payback
- 63 yrs
Chatham University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $119,816 in 29.6 years versus 63 years at Geneva College, on median earnings of $52,410 vs $50,004 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chatham University | Geneva College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,954 | $25,890 |
| Total net cost | $119,816 | $103,560 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,410 | $50,004 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $25,198 |
| Payback | 29.6 yrs | 63 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$38,816 | -$70,680 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chatham University or Geneva College?
Geneva College, at $25,890 a year after aid versus $29,954 — a gap of $4,064 a year, or $16,256 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Chatham University or Geneva College graduates earn more?
Chatham University graduates report a median $52,410 ten years after entry, $2,406 more than the $50,004 at Geneva College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Chatham University or Geneva College?
Chatham University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,198 at Geneva College, a difference of $1,948. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Chatham University, against 61% at Geneva College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.