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SPU UW-Seattle Seattle U Whitworth University Gonzaga Saint Martin's University University of Puget Sound Eastern University Pacific Whitman College Western Washington University University of Portland| Cairn University | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cairn | PLU | ||
| Location | Langhorne, PA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,031 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cairn.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cairn | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $31,255 | $49,472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,255 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,764 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,923 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,376 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 99% |
Admission |
Cairn | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 468 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 379 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 53.3% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | |||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Cairn | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cairn | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,000 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $266 |
Diversity |
Cairn | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 14% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Cairn | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 36% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Cairn | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Pacific Lutheran University is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (2,633 students vs. 1,031 students)
Cairn vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cairn or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 58.3% more expensive to attend than Cairn for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $31,255.00)
- Out of state tuition is 58.3% higher at PLU than Cairn University ($49,472.00 vs. $31,255.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Cairn ($24,825 vs. $25,923)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 0.5% lower than costs at Pacific Lutheran University ($11,764 vs. $11,826)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Cairn University (99% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 98.3% larger than aid received Cairn University ($36,435 vs. $18,376)
Cairn vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cairn or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Cairn .
- The average SAT score at Pacific Lutheran University (1117) is 141 points higher than at Cairn (976)
- Incoming PLU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Cairn (21)
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Cairn (3.31)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Cairn (81%)
Cairn vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cairn or PLU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PLU and Cairn.
- The graduation rate at PLU is higher than Cairn University (66% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Pacific Lutheran University earn on average $15,300 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($52,300 vs. $37,000)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
- More PLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/