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Elmhurst College Loyola Lewis University Benedictine University Bradley Augustana UIC Eastern University Carthage Lake Forest College Aurora University Milikin| North Central College | Cairn University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
| Location | Naperville, IL | Langhorne, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,856 | 1,056 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #349 | #703 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northcentralcollege.edu | cairn.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,114 | $31,881 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,114 | $31,881 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,434 | $12,234 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,190 | $27,603 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,619 | $17,852 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 83% |
Admission |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,241 | 505 | ||
| Admitted | 3,056 | 422 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 58.3% | 83.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.9% | 61.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.6 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/27 | 23/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1065/1280 | 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 | Apr 15, 2026 |
Academics |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,900 | $37,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 0% |
Students |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 36% | ||
Campus |
North Central College | Cairn | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- North Central College is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (2,856 students vs. 1,056 students)
North Central College vs. Cairn Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Cairn?
- North Central College is 38.4% more expensive to attend than Cairn for in-state tuition ($44,114.00 vs. $31,881.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.4% higher at North Central College than Cairn University ($44,114.00 vs. $31,881.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Cairn ($24,190 vs. $27,603)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 1.6% lower than costs at North Central College ($12,234 vs. $12,434)
- More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Cairn University (100% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 71.5% larger than aid received Cairn University ($30,619 vs. $17,852)
North Central College vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, North Central College or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or North Central College .
- The average SAT score at North Central College (1125) is 149 points higher than at Cairn (976)
- Incoming North Central College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Cairn (21)
- Accepted freshman North Central College 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 North Central College (58.3%)
North Central College vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, North Central College 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 North Central College.
- The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Cairn University (64% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from North Central College earn on average $11,900 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $37,000)
- North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/