Salem State University vs. Cairn

Should I go to Salem State University or Cairn University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or Cairn is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Salem State University vs. Cairn University comparison
Salem State University Cairn University College 3 College 4
Salem State University
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Overview

Salem State University Cairn
Location Salem, MA Langhorne, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 1,031
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu cairn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Cairn
Tuition (In State) $910 $31,255
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $31,255
Room & Board $14,954 $11,764
Avg Net Price $19,277 $25,923
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $18,376
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Salem State University Cairn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 468
Admitted 4,719 379
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 81%
Enrolled % 18.3% 53.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2024

Academics

Salem State University Cairn
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (71%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (2%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Cairn
Graduation Rate 42% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $37,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

Salem State University Cairn
% Men 31% 47%
% Women 69% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 72%
% Black 9% 14%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Salem State University Cairn
% In-State 90% 60%
% Out-of-State 8% 36%

Campus

Salem State University Cairn
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 1,031 students)

Salem State University vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Cairn?

  • Cairn University is 3,334.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($31,255.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 343.3% higher at Cairn than Salem State University ($31,255.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Cairn ($19,277 vs. $25,923)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 27.1% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,764 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Cairn University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 114.6% larger than aid received Salem State University ($18,376 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or Salem State University .

  • Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Cairn (81%)

Salem State University vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Cairn? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cairn and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Cairn is higher than Salem State University (63% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $7,400 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $37,000)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University 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/