Penn State Abington vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Abington in Abington, PA with Cairn University Langhorne in Langhorne, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Abington is larger than Cairn based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Abington is located in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cairn University Langhorne is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Abington 14:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

Penn State Abington vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Abington or Cairn? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Abington than Cairn ($19,232 vs. $23,273).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University Langhorne are 11.9% lower than at Penn State Abington ($12,753 vs. $14,474).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 122.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $18,741 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.5% higher at Cairn than at Penn State Abington (about $8,345 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Abington than at Cairn University Langhorne (80% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 116.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($21,416 vs. $9,883).

Penn State Abington vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Abington or Cairn? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cairn and Penn State Abington.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 90 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 1070/1265; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Abington - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Cairn (3.31).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Abington vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

Penn State Abington vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Abington and Cairn? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Cairn University Langhorne's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Cairn graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.