Kent State University at Salem vs. Cairn

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

 Kent State University at Salem Cairn
Location Salem, OH Langhorne, PA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,315 1,031
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kent.edu cairn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Kent State University at Salem Cairn
Tuition (In State) $6,962 $31,255
Tuition (Out of State) $16,068 $31,255
Room & Board $8,882 $11,764
Avg Net Price $10,324 $25,923
Avg Grant Aid $5,185 $18,376
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 96%

Admission

 Kent State University at Salem Cairn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 468
Admitted - 379
Acceptance Rate Open 81%
Enrolled % Open 53.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Kent State University at Salem Cairn
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (71%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (2%)

Outcomes

 Kent State University at Salem Cairn
Graduation Rate 19% 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 University at Salem Cairn
% Men 28% 47%
% Women 72% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 72%
% Black 4% 14%
% Hispanic 2% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Kent State University at Salem Cairn
% In-State 100% 60%
% Out-of-State 0% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Kent State University at Salem is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,315 students vs. 1,031 students)

Kent State University at Salem vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

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

  • Cairn University is 348.9% more expensive to attend than Kent State University at Salem for in-state tuition ($31,255.00 vs. $6,962.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 94.5% higher at Cairn than Kent State University at Salem ($31,255.00 vs. $16,068.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Salem than Cairn ($10,324 vs. $25,923)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Salem are 32.4% lower than costs at Cairn University ($8,882 vs. $11,764)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cairn University than Kent State University at Salem (96% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 254.4% larger than aid received Kent State University at Salem ($18,376 vs. $5,185)

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

  • Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Kent State University at Salem (3.27)

Kent State University at Salem vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kent State University at Salem 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 University at Salem.

  • The graduation rate at Cairn is higher than Kent State University at Salem (63% vs. 19%)
  • Graduates from Kent State University at Salem earn on average $3,300 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $37,000)
  • Kent State University at Salem students graduate with a $1,175 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($25,825 vs. $27,000)
  • Kent State University at Salem 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 University at Salem 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/