Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
CSU Wofford College Eastern University Campbell University Clemson Lander University Liberty University Converse College Messiah College North Greenville University Eckerd College UofSC| Cairn University | Presbyterian College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cairn | PC | ||
| Location | Langhorne, PA | Clinton, SC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,056 | 1,136 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #703 | #371 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cairn.edu | presby.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cairn | PC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $31,881 | $40,200 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,881 | $40,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,234 | $12,713 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,603 | $20,058 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,852 | $37,241 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 100% |
Admission |
Cairn | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 505 | 3,359 | ||
| Admitted | 422 | 2,430 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.6% | 72.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 61.6% | 10.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/27 | 22/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 1080/1280 | ||
| 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 | Sep 21, 2025 |
Academics |
Cairn | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cairn | PC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,000 | $47,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,108 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $269 |
Diversity |
Cairn | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 14% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Cairn | PC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 36% | 46% | ||
Campus |
Cairn | PC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Presbyterian College is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,136 students vs. 1,056 students)
Cairn vs. PC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cairn or PC?
- Presbyterian College is 26.1% more expensive to attend than Cairn for in-state tuition ($40,200.00 vs. $31,881.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26.1% higher at PC than Cairn University ($40,200.00 vs. $31,881.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Presbyterian College than Cairn ($20,058 vs. $27,603)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 3.9% lower than costs at Presbyterian College ($12,234 vs. $12,713)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Presbyterian College than Cairn University (100% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Presbyterian College students is 108.6% larger than aid received Cairn University ($37,241 vs. $17,852)
Cairn vs. PC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cairn or PC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PC or Cairn .
- The average SAT score at Presbyterian College (1082) is 106 points higher than at Cairn (976)
- Incoming PC students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Cairn (21)
- Accepted freshman PC students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Cairn (3.31)
- Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than PC (72.3%)
Cairn vs. PC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cairn or PC? 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 PC and Cairn.
- The graduation rate at PC is higher than Cairn University (68% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Presbyterian College earn on average $10,700 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $37,000)
- Presbyterian College students graduate with a $892 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($26,108 vs. $27,000)
- PC graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($269 vs. $279)
- More PC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/