Cairn vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

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

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cairn University Langhorne is located in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cairn University Langhorne 11:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

Cairn vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cairn or Ship? 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 Ship ($23,273 vs. $23,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 4.4% lower than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ($12,753 vs. $13,340).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 147.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $20,289 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 112.9% higher at Cairn than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $18,035 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than at Cairn University Langhorne (90% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 217% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($21,416 vs. $6,756).

Cairn vs. Ship Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1100) is 20 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cairn - Test optional; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Ship (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.2% at Cairn vs. 17.5% at Ship.

Cairn vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cairn and Ship? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's (60%).
• Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.