Penn State Mont Alto vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Mont Alto in Mont Alto, PA 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 Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (1,097 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Mont Alto is located in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto 10:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

Penn State Mont Alto vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto than Cairn ($19,675 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 Mont Alto ($12,753 vs. $14,474).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 136% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Mont Alto (about $19,601 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at Cairn than at Penn State Mont Alto (about $9,875 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Mont Alto than at Cairn University Langhorne (84% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 111.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students ($21,416 vs. $10,106).

Penn State Mont Alto vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Mont Alto (1140) is 60 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

Penn State Mont Alto vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto's (52%).
• Graduates from Penn State Mont Alto 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 Mont Alto graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Mont Alto 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.