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Eastern University Liberty University Messiah College UArts Temple| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Cairn University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
| Location | Philadelphia, PA | Langhorne, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 172 | 1,031 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pafa.org | cairn.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,500 | $31,255 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,500 | $31,255 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,512 | $11,764 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $48,191 | $25,923 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,087 | $18,376 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 80% | 96% |
Admission |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 183 | 468 | ||
| Admitted | 167 | 379 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.3% | 81% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.4% | 53.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
| Graduation Rate | 73% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $22,000 | $37,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $274 | $279 |
Diversity |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 2% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 0% |
Students |
PAFA | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 36% | ||
Campus |
PAFA | 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
- Cairn University is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (1,031 students vs. 172 students)
PAFA vs. Cairn Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PAFA or Cairn?
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 29.6% more expensive to attend than Cairn for in-state tuition ($40,500.00 vs. $31,255.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.6% higher at PAFA than Cairn University ($40,500.00 vs. $31,255.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cairn University than PAFA ($25,923 vs. $48,191)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 48.9% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($11,764 vs. $17,512)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cairn University than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (96% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 14.2% larger than aid received Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($18,376 vs. $16,087)
PAFA vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PAFA or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or PAFA .
- PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Cairn (81%)
PAFA vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PAFA 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 PAFA.
- The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Cairn University (73% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Cairn University earn on average $15,000 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($37,000 vs. $22,000)
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($26,500 vs. $27,000)
- PAFA graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($274 vs. $279)
- More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/