Cairn vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pennsylvania College of Technology is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (4,575 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cairn University Langhorne is located in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cairn University Langhorne 11:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

Cairn vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cairn or Penn College? 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 Cairn University Langhorne than Penn College ($23,273 vs. $23,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 0.5% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Technology ($12,753 vs. $12,818).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 86.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn College (about $15,769 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $18,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.9% higher at Cairn than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (about $8,029 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $25,980.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cairn University Langhorne than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (77% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 138.9% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students ($21,416 vs. $8,964).

Cairn vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cairn or Penn College? 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 Penn College and Cairn.

• Pennsylvania College of Technology reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cairn - Test optional; Penn College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Penn College (3.05).

Cairn vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cairn and Penn College? 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology's (42%).
• Graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,400 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Technology graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($222 vs. $279).
• More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)

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.