
Cairn's reported 2024-25 full-time undergraduate tuition was $33,234, with $425 in required fees; the reported charges were the same for in-state and out-of-state students. These are published charges before grants or scholarships, not an individual student's final bill.
Together, those reported items total $49,482 for a student using the stated housing-and-dining estimate, before transportation, personal expenses, and other applicable costs. The total is an illustration built from one reporting year, not a complete individualized cost-of-attendance quote. Part-time undergraduates were reported at $995 per credit hour.
Financial aid can change the amount a student pays. In the reported aid data, all students in the measured group received some form of financial aid, and 53% used student loans; neither figure means every student received a grant covering the full bill. Reported average net prices varied by family income, including $23,867 for the lowest listed income group and $33,129 for families above $110,000. Net price reflects costs after applicable grant aid, but a personal offer may differ substantially.
Eligible students may draw on federal and state grants, institutional scholarships, loans, and qualifying military education benefits. Completing the FAFSA and reviewing Cairn's current scholarship and aid requirements are practical steps before comparing offers. Applicants should compare the same academic year and distinguish grants, which generally need not be repaid, from loans and employment earnings.
Student employment can help with expenses, but a campus job is not the same thing as a grant or a guaranteed reduction in tuition. Federal Work-Study, when included in an eligible student's aid offer, generally provides the opportunity to earn wages through an approved job; students must work the hours to receive the money.
Applicants interested in employment should ask Cairn's financial aid and student employment staff how positions are posted, whether work-study eligibility is required for a particular opening, and how many hours are realistic alongside their courses. Separately, reported career services include individual career planning, résumé assistance, career-interest testing, alumni networking, and job-placement support for undergraduates. Those services can support a job or internship search but should not be read as verified employment outcomes.
100% of undergraduates receive aid, $20,066 on average
Yearly living expenses by where students live
Average yearly cost after grants, students awarded federal aid
Typical room charge for academic year
$7,094Typical board charge for academic year
$6,329Total dormitory capacity
433Institution provide on-campus housing
YesInstitution provides board or meal plan
YesTuition guaranteed plan
NoPrepaid tuition plan
NoUndergraduate average amount
$20,066All
$21,416Undergraduate average amount
$21,773Graduate average amount
$4,350Data last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.