Cairn University
Cairn University is a private, non-profit Christian university founded in 1913 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, offering 70+ degree programs across six academic schools both on-campus and online (Cairn Online) to undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and dual enrollment students, with all curricula integrating biblical theology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1913
- HeadquartersLanghorne, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cairn University does
Cairn University is a private, non-profit Christian university founded in 1913 (originally as Philadelphia School of the Bible) and headquartered at 200 Manor Avenue, Langhorne, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. The institution delivers Christ-centered higher education across six academic schools — Business and Technology, Divinity, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Music, and Counseling — and a Department of Counseling, offering more than 70 degree programs from associate through doctoral level, including a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership. All degree programs integrate 32 credits of Bible and theology. The university is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and participates in NC-SARA, enabling multi-state online delivery. Its NCAA Division III athletics program competes as the Cairn Highlanders in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.
The business model is tuition- and donation-driven. On-campus full-time undergraduates pay a net price of approximately $14,346 per semester after an average financial aid award of $20,042 (97% of full-time undergrads receive aid). Cairn Online offers block pricing at $4,900/semester for 12-18 credits (~$272/credit) and pay-as-you-go at $460/credit for undergraduates, while graduate programs run $455-$725/credit with promotional rates as low as $400/credit. Dual enrollment pricing for 2026-2027 ranges from $80/credit at partner high schools to $149/credit on campus. Distribution channels include direct on-campus enrollment, the Common App (Code 1022), SARA-enabled online enrollment, and dual enrollment partnerships with Christian schools and homeschool cooperatives. Revenue is supplemented by annual giving via the Cairn Fund and planned giving through the Regency Foundation.
Technology and instructional delivery rely on third-party platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure: the online program uses Cerego adaptive learning for long-term retention, video-thread collaboration tools, and an asynchronous course model with a seven-day rapid development (7RD2) process in select MBA and MA programs. The GTM motion is multi-channel and event-driven — Experience Cairn Days, SOAR orientation, NACCAP college fairs, church and homeschool partnerships, and alumni referrals — supplemented by content marketing (Cairn Magazine to 12,000+ recipients, the Triquetra academic publication, and the Defragmenting podcast produced by Faith & Truth Media). International students from dozens of countries are supported through F-1 visa processing and Form I-20 issuance.
Cairn University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cairn University
- Legal name
- Cairn University
- Website
- https://cairn.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1913
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cairn University is a private, non-profit Christian university founded in 1913 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, offering 70+ degree programs across six academic schools both on-campus and online (Cairn Online) to undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and dual enrollment students, with all curricula integrating biblical theology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cairn University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Christian Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Cairn University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Langhorne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cairn University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees - On-Campus Undergraduate: Full-time undergraduate tuition for 12-18 credits per semester, with average net cost of $14,346 after financial aid
- Tuition and Fees - Cairn Online: Flat per-credit rate of $460 for undergraduate online programs; block pricing of $4,900 per semester for 12-18 credits
- Graduate Tuition: Graduate programs priced at $455-$725 per credit depending on program, with promotional rates as low as $400/credit in select programs
- Room and Board: Housing and dining services included in full-time on-campus tuition package
- Application Fees: $25 non-refundable application fee (waivable with promotional codes)
- Annual Giving and Donations: The Cairn Fund and planned giving through the Regency Foundation support student scholarships and university operations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full-time On-Campus Undergraduate |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Cairn Online Undergraduate - Block Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cairn Online Undergraduate - Per Credit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Graduate Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dual Enrollment - Online |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dual Enrollment - On Campus |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dual Enrollment - Partner Campus |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Cairn University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cairn University is a private, non-profit biblical Christian university that delivers more than 70 degree programs (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral) across six academic schools, offered on-campus in Langhorne, PA and online through Cairn Online. Programs integrate biblical and theological coursework into every major and are priced via tuition per credit or block semester rates, with 97% of full-time undergraduates receiving financial aid. Supplementary offerings include dual enrollment for high school students, gap year, honors, study abroad, and degree completion programs.
Product overview
Cairn University is a Christian university offering over 70 educational programs across six academic schools (School of Business and Technology, School of Divinity, School of Education, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Music, and Department of Counseling). The institution provides undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees through traditional on-campus instruction, Cairn Online (30+ online programs), and hybrid formats. Additional offerings include Dual Enrollment for high school students, Gap Year Programs, Study Abroad, and Honors Programs. Programs are Christ-centered with Bible and theology integration required across all curricula.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cairn Online: The university's fully online degree programs offering biblical, Christ-centered education at associate's, bachelor's, and master's levels.
- Cairn Highlanders
Products and services
- Cairn Online A distinctly biblical, Christ-centered online education platform offering over 30 degree programs at associate's, bachelor's, and master's levels with asynchronous course design and SARA-enabled multi-state enrollment.
- School of Business and Technology Offers undergraduate and graduate business programs including Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, and Sport Management.
- School of Divinity Provides seminary programs including Master of Divinity (MDiv), Religion MA, and Executive Ministry Leadership MA, integrating biblical theology with professional ministry training.
- School of Education Offers teacher preparation programs at undergraduate and graduate levels including Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, and Educational Leadership.
- School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Provides programs in Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Digital Media and Communication, English, Graphic Design, History, Mathematics, Politics, Pre-Med, Psychology, and Studio Art.
- School of Music Offers undergraduate and graduate music programs including Composition (BMus), Music (BA), Music Education (BMus), Music Performance (BMus), and Worship and Music (BA/MA).
- Department of Counseling Graduate counseling programs including Community Counseling (MA), Counseling (MS), and Counseling Ministry (MA) for professional counseling careers.
- Degree Completion Program Accelerated program for non-traditional students to complete bachelor's degrees in Bible or General Studies, available fully online or on campus with once-weekly classes.
- Dual Enrollment College credit program for high school students offering online courses ($129/credit), on-campus courses ($149/credit), or courses at partner high schools ($80/credit).
- Gap Year Programs One-year accredited Christian gap year programs including OneLife, CAMP-of-the-WOODS LIFT, and Planted, designed for students after high school.
- Study Abroad International academic and service opportunities including short-term missions trips, cross-cultural internships, and semester abroad programs.
- Honors Program Academic excellence program for high-achieving students requiring application with reflections, essays, recommendations, and research papers.
- Doctor of Education (EdD) Online doctoral program in Educational Leadership requiring master's degree, personal testimony, statement of purpose, references, writing sample, and faculty interview.
- Dual-Level Degree Programs Combined undergraduate and graduate degree paths allowing students to earn both degrees in as few as five years, including combinations like Business Administration BS + MBA.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of full-time undergraduate students receive financial assistance
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cairn University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cairn University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cairn University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)coreRegional accreditation body ensuring academic standards and federal financial aid eligibility for students
- NC-SARAcoreState Authorization Reciprocity Agreements enabling multi-state enrollment for online programs
- Faith & Truth MediacoreProduces Cairn Magazine, Triquetra academic publication, and Defragmenting podcast for the university
- SAGE ScholarsminorTuition Rewards program allowing families to accrue points redeemable for tuition discounts
- Common AppcoreCoalition application platform (Code: 1022) enabling domestic first-year student applications
- OneLife InstituteminorGap year program partnership offering college credit for 9-month program participation
- Word of Life Bible InstituteminorPartner transfer scholarship program with minimum GPA 2.0 for graduates
- Reformation Bible CollegeminorPartner transfer scholarship program for graduates
- CAMP-of-the-WOODSminorGap year program partnership with LIFT program for college credit and transfer scholarships
- NACCAPminorNational Association of Christian College Admissions Professionals for college fair participation and recruitment
- ACSIminorAssociation of Christian Schools International partnership for recruitment and leadership U scholarship
- AwanaminorYouth ministry organization offering leadership scholarship for students with high school involvement
- Young LifeminorYouth ministry organization offering leadership scholarship for students with high school involvement
- Study in the States (DHS)minorDepartment of Homeland Security resource for international students navigating F-1 visa process
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cairn University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wheaton College: Top-ranked evangelical liberal arts college in Illinois offering undergraduate and graduate programs (including a respected M.A. in Biblical Exegesis). Comparable to Cairn in faith-centered identity, residential model, and academic quality positioning within the Christian college segment.
- Dallas Baptist University: Texas-based Baptist university with a strong online program portfolio serving adult and graduate learners. Comparable to Cairn in evangelical identity, online delivery strategy, and emphasis on integrating faith across professional programs.
- Regent University: Virginia-based evangelical university offering online and on-campus degrees across business, divinity, education, and arts — closely comparable to Cairn in faith-based identity, online program breadth, and graduate/professional school mix.
- Oral Roberts University: Charismatic evangelical university offering undergraduate through doctoral programs with a Whole Person Education model. Comparable to Cairn in faith-centered identity, professional school portfolio (business, education, theology), and tuition-based revenue model.
- Grove City College: Pennsylvania-based private Christian college with comparable tuition affordability positioning, faith-based identity, and undergraduate/graduate program mix. Direct geographic and market overlap with Cairn's on-campus footprint.
- Bob Jones University: Fundamentalist Christian university in South Carolina with comparable program breadth (undergraduate through graduate, including seminary, education, and music). Similar faith-centered identity and tuition-funded operating model.
- Moody Bible Institute: Chicago-based evangelical institution focused on Bible/theology training with a growing online and distance-learning presence. Comparable to Cairn's School of Divinity in target audience, curriculum philosophy, and online expansion strategy.
- Biola University: Southern California evangelical university with a strong online division ( Talbot Seminary, Crowell School of Business) — directly comparable to Cairn's School of Divinity and Cairn Online offerings in target market and curriculum integration approach.
- Eastern University: Philadelphia-area evangelical university (nearby geographic peer) offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs with faith integration. Comparable to Cairn in regional footprint, Christian identity, and online program expansion strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Liberty University: Largest private evangelical Christian university in the U.S. with extensive online program offerings. Overlaps Cairn directly on faith-based undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education plus online delivery, but operates at substantially greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cairn University social profiles
Digital presenceCairn University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cairn University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cairn University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cairn University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cairn University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cairn University
What does Cairn University do?
Cairn University is a private, non-profit biblical Christian university that delivers more than 70 degree programs (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral) across six academic schools, offered on-campus in Langhorne, PA and online through Cairn Online. Programs integrate biblical and theological coursework into every major and are priced via tuition per credit or block semester rates, with 97% of full-time undergraduates receiving financial aid. Supplementary offerings include dual enrollment for high school students, gap year, honors, study abroad, and degree completion programs.
Is Cairn University a public or private company?
Cairn University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cairn University founded?
Cairn University was founded in 1913. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cairn University based?
Cairn University is headquartered in Langhorne, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cairn University make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees - On-Campus Undergraduate is the primary driver. The others are tuition and Fees - Cairn Online, graduate Tuition, room and Board, application Fees and annual Giving and Donations.
Who are Cairn University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wheaton College, Dallas Baptist University, Regent University, Oral Roberts University, Grove City College, Bob Jones University, Moody Bible Institute, Biola University and Eastern University. Liberty University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cairn University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cairn University.
What industry is Cairn University in?
Cairn University's product category is Christian Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAG, Christian Colleges with Theological Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHAKAM, Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.