BLC vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cairn University Langhorne is larger than BLC based on total student enrollment (1,097 students vs. 899 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bethany Lutheran College is located in Mankato, MN (Remote Town setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bethany Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bethany Lutheran College 12:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

BLC vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BLC 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 Bethany Lutheran College than Cairn ($21,127 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 32.4% lower than at Cairn University Langhorne ($8,620 vs. $12,753).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than BLC (about $2,649 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $31,360.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Cairn than at Bethany Lutheran College (about $2,649 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $31,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethany Lutheran College than at Cairn University Langhorne (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Bethany Lutheran College students ($21,416 vs. $19,865).

BLC vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BLC 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 BLC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bethany Lutheran College (1110) is 30 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bethany Lutheran College 1040/1180; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bethany Lutheran College 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BLC - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: BLC Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman BLC students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at Cairn (3.31).
• Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than BLC (39%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34% at BLC vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

BLC vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BLC 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 Bethany Lutheran College's (53%).
• Graduates from Bethany Lutheran College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bethany Lutheran College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, BLC graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($240 vs. $279).
• More BLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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.