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JMU VCU Virginia Tech CNU Old Dominion UVA UMBC UNC Charlotte UB William & Mary Mary Washington College ASU| Cairn University | George Mason University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cairn | Mason | ||
| Location | Langhorne, PA | Fairfax, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,056 | 39,527 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #703 | #239 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cairn.edu | gmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cairn | Mason | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $31,881 | $10,095 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,881 | $35,677 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,234 | $15,151 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,603 | $18,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,852 | $11,311 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 72% |
Admission |
Cairn | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 505 | 22,579 | ||
| Admitted | 422 | 20,057 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.6% | 88.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 61.6% | 22.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/27 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 1140/1340 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Cairn | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Cairn | Mason | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,000 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 73% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $204 |
Diversity |
Cairn | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
Cairn | Mason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 36% | 16% | ||
Campus |
Cairn | Mason | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- George Mason University is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (39,527 students vs. 1,056 students)
Cairn vs. Mason Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cairn or Mason?
- Cairn University is 215.8% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($31,881.00 vs. $10,095.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.9% higher at Mason than Cairn University ($35,677.00 vs. $31,881.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at George Mason University than Cairn ($18,900 vs. $27,603)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 23.8% lower than costs at George Mason University ($12,234 vs. $15,151)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cairn University than George Mason University (83% vs. 72%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 57.8% larger than aid received George Mason University ($17,852 vs. $11,311)
Cairn vs. Mason Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cairn or Mason? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mason or Cairn .
- The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 177 points higher than at Cairn (976)
- Incoming Mason students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Cairn (21)
- Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Cairn (3.31)
- Mason has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Cairn (83.6%)
Cairn vs. Mason Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cairn or Mason? 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 Mason and Cairn.
- The graduation rate at Mason is higher than Cairn University (64% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $24,900 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $37,000)
- George Mason University students graduate with a $7,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($19,750 vs. $27,000)
- Mason graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($204 vs. $279)
- More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/