MCLA vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cairn University Langhorne is larger than MCLA based on total student enrollment (1,097 students vs. 896 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is located in North Adams, MA (Distant Town setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 8:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

MCLA vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCLA 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 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Cairn ($16,544 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 17.1% lower than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($12,753 vs. $15,386).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 173.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MCLA (about $21,573 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $12,436.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59.1% higher at Cairn than at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (about $12,628 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $21,381.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than at Cairn University Langhorne (99% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 136.8% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students ($21,416 vs. $9,045).

MCLA vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCLA 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 MCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cairn University Langhorne (1080) is 10 points higher than at MCLA (1070).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 960/1180; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 17/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MCLA - Test-free; Cairn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at MCLA (3.2).
• MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (89.7%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at MCLA vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

MCLA vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCLA 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 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts's (53%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts earn a median of about $100 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates have a $2,341 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($24,659 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, MCLA graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($254 vs. $279).
• More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCLA students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.