LEC vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Erie College is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,108 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Erie College is located in Painesville, OH (Large Suburban setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lake Erie College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Erie College 12:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

LEC vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LEC 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 Lake Erie College than Cairn ($22,892 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 2.2% lower than at Lake Erie College ($12,753 vs. $13,036).
• Lake Erie College is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cairn (about $3,625 more per year; $37,634.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at LEC than at Cairn University Langhorne (about $3,625 more per year; $37,634.00 vs. $34,009.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Erie College than at Cairn University Langhorne (100% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 30.2% larger than aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students ($27,879 vs. $21,416).

LEC vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LEC 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 LEC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cairn University Langhorne (1080) is 50 points higher than at LEC (1030).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Erie College 945/1115; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Erie College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LEC - Test-free; Cairn - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: LEC Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at LEC (3.19).
• Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than LEC (70.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at LEC vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

LEC vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LEC 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 Lake Erie College's (53%).
• Graduates from Cairn University Langhorne earn a median of about $400 more per year than LEC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cairn University Langhorne and LEC graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Cairn University Langhorne and LEC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LEC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 62%)

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.