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TU Frostburg State University UMES Maryland Delaware State University Loyola University Maryland UMBC Mount St. Mary's University St. Mary's Stevenson University Eastern University McDaniel College| Salisbury University | Cairn University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
| Location | Salisbury, MD | Langhorne, PA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 7,030 | 1,056 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #356 | #703 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salisbury.edu | cairn.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,706 | $31,881 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,400 | $31,881 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,416 | $12,234 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,931 | $27,603 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,192 | $17,852 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 83% |
Admission |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,090 | 505 | ||
| Admitted | 7,170 | 422 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% | 83.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.2% | 61.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/28 | 23/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1310 | 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,000 | $37,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 68% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,153 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $208 | $279 |
Diversity |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 13% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 81% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 36% | ||
Campus |
Salisbury | Cairn | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Salisbury University is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (7,030 students vs. 1,056 students)
Salisbury vs. Cairn Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or Cairn?
- Cairn University is 313.7% more expensive to attend than Salisbury for in-state tuition ($31,881.00 vs. $7,706.00)
- Out of state tuition is 73.3% higher at Cairn than Salisbury University ($31,881.00 vs. $18,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salisbury University than Cairn ($17,931 vs. $27,603)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 9.7% lower than costs at Salisbury University ($12,234 vs. $13,416)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salisbury University than Cairn University (89% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 117.9% larger than aid received Salisbury University ($17,852 vs. $8,192)
Salisbury vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or Salisbury .
- Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Cairn (3.31)
- Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Cairn (83.6%)
Salisbury vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salisbury 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 Salisbury.
- The graduation rate at Salisbury is higher than Cairn University (67% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Salisbury University earn on average $15,000 more per year than Cairn graduates after ten years. ($52,000 vs. $37,000)
- Salisbury University students graduate with a $6,847 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($20,153 vs. $27,000)
- Salisbury graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($208 vs. $279)
- More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/