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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Penn State Schuylkill Robert Morris University Concord University Eastern University Frostburg State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania GCU Fairmont State Liberty University| PennWest California | Cairn University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
| Location | California, PA | Langhorne, PA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,509 | 1,031 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1033 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calu.edu | cairn.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $31,255 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,574 | $31,255 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,416 | $11,764 | ||
| Avg Net Price | - | $25,923 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $0 | $18,376 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 0% | 96% |
Admission |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 468 | ||
| Admitted | - | 379 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81% | |||
| Enrolled % | 53.3% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 940/1150 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Aug 22, 2025 |
Academics |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $37,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 36% | ||
Campus |
PennWest California | Cairn | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- PennWest California is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 1,031 students)
PennWest California vs. Cairn Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Cairn?
- Cairn University is 305.1% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($31,255.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 170% higher at Cairn than PennWest California ($31,255.00 vs. $11,574.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 12.9% lower than costs at Cairn University ($10,416 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cairn University than PennWest California (96% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($18,376 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or PennWest California .
- The average SAT score at Cairn University (976) is 54 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
- Incoming Cairn students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at PennWest California (20)
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have at the same average high school GPA (3.31) as students at Cairn (3.31)
PennWest California vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PennWest California 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 PennWest California.
- The graduation rate at Cairn is higher than PennWest California (63% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $5,500 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $37,000)
- PennWest California students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- PennWest California graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/