AQ vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

AQ vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or Cairn? 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 Aquinas College than Cairn ($18,018 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 8.4% lower than at Cairn University Langhorne ($11,680 vs. $12,753).
• Aquinas College is 18.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cairn (about $6,209 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.3% higher at AQ than at Cairn University Langhorne (about $6,209 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Cairn University Langhorne (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 56.6% larger than aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students ($33,535 vs. $21,416).

AQ vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or Cairn? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cairn and AQ.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cairn University Langhorne (1080) is 50 points higher than at AQ (1030).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Cairn (3.31).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

AQ vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and Cairn? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Cairn University Langhorne's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.