Accessible2025-2026 admissions cycle

Cairn University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 88%, Cairn University is an accessible private college in Pennsylvania. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Cairn University weighs, where it ranks among Pennsylvania schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1120, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
88%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1120
of admitted students
Type
Private
Pennsylvania
Selectivity in state
#48
of 62 in PA
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Will I get into Cairn University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Cairn University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Cairn University?

Cairn University admits most qualified applicants (around 88%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Cairn University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Cairn University hard to get into?

Cairn University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 88% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Cairn University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Cairn University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Cairn University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Cairn University?

Cairn University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Cairn University.

Calculate your chances at Cairn University

What Cairn University looks for

What Cairn University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Cairn University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Cairn University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Very important
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Cairn University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Cairn University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Cairn University compares in Pennsylvania

Cairn University ranks #48 most selective of 62 schools in Pennsylvania in our database.

Among the 62 Pennsylvania schools we track, Cairn University ranks #48 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Pennsylvania (5%) and Swarthmore College (7%) sit nearby, which makes Pennsylvania a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Pennsylvania
5%acceptance · PA
Swarthmore College
7%acceptance · PA
Carnegie Mellon University
12%acceptance · PA
Haverford College
12%acceptance · PA
Lehigh University
26%acceptance · PA
Villanova University
27%acceptance · PA
Franklin & Marshall College
28%acceptance · PA
Bucknell University
29%acceptance · PA
See all Pennsylvania schools →

Similar to Cairn University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Cairn University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Bethune-Cookman University, Wagner College, and Azusa Pacific University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Bethune-Cookman University
88%acceptance · FL
Wagner College
88%acceptance · NY
Azusa Pacific University
88%acceptance · CA
Bethel University (MN)
88%acceptance · MN
Curry College
88%acceptance · MA
Hamline University
88%acceptance · MN

Frequently asked questions

What does Cairn University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Cairn University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Cairn University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Cairn University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Cairn University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Cairn University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Cairn University?

Cairn University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.