Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Cairn

Comparable Facts

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

Cairn University Langhorne is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (1,097 students vs. 352 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Greater Allegheny is located in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting); Cairn University Langhorne is in Langhorne, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny 9:1; Cairn University Langhorne 11:1.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny than Cairn ($15,574 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 Greater Allegheny ($12,753 vs. $14,474).
• Cairn University Langhorne is 136% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $19,601 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at Cairn than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $9,875 more per year; $34,009.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at Cairn University Langhorne (86% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University Langhorne students is 92.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($21,416 vs. $11,121).

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Cairn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 100 points higher than at Cairn (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280; Cairn University Langhorne 1000/1160.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional; Cairn - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Cairn (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. 45.2% at Cairn.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Cairn graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cairn graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.