Kent State vs. Cairn

Should I go to Kent State University at Kent or Cairn University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kent State 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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Kent State University at Kent vs. Cairn University comparison
Kent State University at Kent Cairn University College 3 College 4
Kent State University at Kent
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Overview

Kent State Cairn
Location Kent, OH Langhorne, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 26,106 1,056
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #829 #703
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kent.edu cairn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kent State Cairn
Tuition (In State) $12,674 $31,881
Tuition (Out of State) $22,144 $31,881
Room & Board $13,040 $12,234
Avg Net Price $20,333 $27,603
Avg Grant Aid $9,888 $17,852
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 83%

Admission

Kent State Cairn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,365 505
Admitted 19,379 422
Acceptance Rate 86.6% 83.6%
Enrolled % 22.1% 61.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 23/27
SAT Range 1000/1230 1050/1260
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Kent State Cairn
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (71%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (2%)

Outcomes

Kent State Cairn
Graduation Rate 50% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $37,000
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,825 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $267 $279

Diversity

Kent State Cairn
% Men 8% 9%
% Women 14% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 72%
% Black 9% 14%
% Hispanic 3% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Kent State Cairn
% In-State 80% 60%
% Out-of-State 18% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Kent State University at Kent is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (26,106 students vs. 1,056 students)

Kent State vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State or Cairn?

  • Cairn University is 151.5% more expensive to attend than Kent State for in-state tuition ($31,881.00 vs. $12,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44% higher at Cairn than Kent State University at Kent ($31,881.00 vs. $22,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Kent than Cairn ($20,333 vs. $27,603)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 6.6% lower than costs at Kent State University at Kent ($12,234 vs. $13,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than Cairn University (94% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 80.5% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($17,852 vs. $9,888)

Kent State vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Kent State University at Kent (1067) is 91 points higher than at Cairn (976)
  • Incoming Kent State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cairn (21)
  • Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Cairn (3.31)
  • Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (86.6%) than Cairn (83.6%)

Kent State vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kent State 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 Kent State.

  • The graduation rate at Cairn is higher than Kent State University at Kent (63% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Kent State University at Kent earn on average $3,300 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $37,000)
  • Kent State University at Kent students graduate with a $1,175 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($25,825 vs. $27,000)
  • Kent State graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($267 vs. $279)
  • More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/