Penn State Altoona vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona 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 Penn State Altoona than Cairn ($21,618 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 11.9% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,753 vs. $14,474).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 112.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $18,037 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.2% higher at Cairn than at Penn State Altoona (about $7,051 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Cairn University Langhorne (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 93.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($21,416 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona 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 Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 100 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Cairn (3.31).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

Penn State Altoona vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona 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).

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Cairn University Langhorne's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.