Warren Wilson vs. Cairn

Should I go to Warren Wilson College or Cairn University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Warren Wilson or Cairn is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Warren Wilson College vs. Cairn University comparison
Warren Wilson College Cairn University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Warren Wilson Cairn
Location Swannanoa, NC Langhorne, PA
Setting Midsize Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 793 1,031
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website warren-wilson.edu cairn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Warren Wilson Cairn
Tuition (In State) $37,500 $31,255
Tuition (Out of State) $37,500 $31,255
Room & Board $12,050 $11,764
Avg Net Price $28,086 $25,923
Avg Grant Aid $26,012 $18,376
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 Warren Wilson Cairn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 905 468
Admitted 760 379
Acceptance Rate 84% 81%
Enrolled % 25.3% 53.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29
SAT Range
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 Jul 3, 2025

Academics

 Warren Wilson Cairn
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Natural Resources Conservation (28%)
  • English and Literature (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (71%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (2%)

Outcomes

 Warren Wilson Cairn
Graduation Rate 45% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,800 $37,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $279

Diversity

 Warren Wilson Cairn
% Men 34% 47%
% Women 66% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 72%
% Black 4% 14%
% Hispanic 9% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Warren Wilson Cairn
% In-State 40% 60%
% Out-of-State 58% 36%

Campus

 Warren Wilson 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

  • Cairn University is larger than than Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (1,031 students vs. 793 students)

Warren Wilson vs. Cairn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Warren Wilson or Cairn?

  • Warren Wilson College is 20% more expensive to attend than Cairn for in-state tuition ($37,500.00 vs. $31,255.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20% higher at Warren Wilson than Cairn University ($37,500.00 vs. $31,255.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cairn University than Warren Wilson ($25,923 vs. $28,086)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cairn University are 2.4% lower than costs at Warren Wilson College ($11,764 vs. $12,050)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Warren Wilson College than Cairn University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 41.6% larger than aid received Cairn University ($26,012 vs. $18,376)

Warren Wilson vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Warren Wilson or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or Warren Wilson .

  • The average SAT score at Warren Wilson College (1120) is 144 points higher than at Cairn (976)
  • Incoming Warren Wilson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Cairn (21)
  • Accepted freshman Warren Wilson students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Cairn (3.31)
  • Warren Wilson has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than Cairn (81%)

Warren Wilson vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Warren Wilson 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 Warren Wilson.

  • The graduation rate at Cairn is higher than Warren Wilson College (63% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Cairn University earn on average $6,200 more per year than Warren Wilson graduates after ten years. ($37,000 vs. $30,800)
  • Warren Wilson College students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Cairn graduates. ($23,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Warren Wilson graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than Cairn graduates. ($237 vs. $279)
  • More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cairn students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/