Penn State Brandywine vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Brandywine is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,236 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Brandywine is located in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 15:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

Penn State Brandywine vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine than Cairn ($22,710 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 Brandywine ($12,753 vs. $14,474).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 123.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $18,801 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.9% higher at Cairn than at Penn State Brandywine (about $8,617 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cairn University Langhorne than at Penn State Brandywine (77% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 135% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($21,416 vs. $9,113).

Penn State Brandywine vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 120 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Brandywine - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

Penn State Brandywine vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Brandywine 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 Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Brandywine 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.