Religion/Religious Studies at Cairn University-Langhorne

Cairn University's Religion program commands higher debt than most religious studies programs nationally, but graduates earn substantially more than their peers—placing in the 87th percentile nationally with first-year earnings of $34,663 versus a $25,450 national median. That 36% earnings premium matters when evaluating the $30,750 debt load, which translates to a manageable 0.89 debt-to-earnings ratio. The fact that graduates see 23% earnings growth by year four, reaching $42,600, suggests they're finding sustainable career paths rather than hitting early ceilings.

Within Pennsylvania, these outcomes look more typical—landing at the state median for both earnings and debt. This makes sense given that Cairn likely competes with other regional Christian colleges where graduates pursue similar ministry, nonprofit, and education careers. The program delivers better-than-average preparation for a field where many graduates accept modest salaries for mission-driven work.

For parents, the key question is whether your child is genuinely called to vocational ministry or religious work. If so, this debt level won't be crippling given the earnings trajectory. But if they're uncertain about their path or might pivot to secular careers, the higher borrowing compared to cheaper religious studies programs elsewhere becomes harder to justify—even with the earnings advantage.