CHC vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chestnut Hill College is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,288 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CHC vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CHC 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 Cairn University Langhorne than CHC ($23,273 vs. $28,588).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chestnut Hill College are 1.2% lower than at Cairn University Langhorne ($12,600 vs. $12,753).
• Chestnut Hill College is 17.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cairn (about $5,861 more per year; $39,870.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.2% higher at CHC than at Cairn University Langhorne (about $5,861 more per year; $39,870.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chestnut Hill College than at Cairn University Langhorne (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chestnut Hill College students is 38.2% larger than aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students ($29,590 vs. $21,416).

CHC vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CHC 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 CHC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cairn University Langhorne (1080) is 80 points higher than at CHC (1000).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chestnut Hill College 900/1090; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CHC - Test-free; Cairn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at CHC (3.12).
• Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than CHC (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at CHC vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

CHC vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CHC 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 Chestnut Hill College's (44%).
• Graduates from Chestnut Hill College earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,300 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Chestnut Hill College graduates have a $519 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,481 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CHC graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($273 vs. $279).
• More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CHC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

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.