FDU vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck, NJ with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (8,045 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is located in Teaneck, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus 14:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

FDU vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus than Cairn ($16,920 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 21.6% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus ($12,753 vs. $16,270).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is 11.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cairn (about $3,995 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at FDU than at Cairn University Langhorne (about $3,995 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus than at Cairn University Langhorne (99% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus students is 57.9% larger than aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students ($33,807 vs. $21,416).

FDU vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cairn University Langhorne (1080) is 40 points higher than at FDU (1040).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus 908/1180; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus 20/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman FDU students have the same average high school GPA (3.31) as students at Cairn (3.31).
• FDU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at FDU vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

FDU vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus's (41%).
• Graduates from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,900 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, FDU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.