Admit rate has ranged 63%–80% over the last 4 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Coe College is a small, selective liberal arts school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where 64% of applicants get in but nearly all who graduate land jobs or further education. Known for its tight-knit residential community (85% live on campus) and strong outcomes (96% employed/grad school-bound), Coe delivers a classic liberal arts experience with surprising strengths in business, sciences, and a unique aviation management program. The $59K sticker price comes down to ~$21K for most after aid—typical for private colleges that invest heavily in scholarships.
Admission requirements
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2021) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,164
In-state tuition
$54,666
Out-of-state tuition
$54,666
Top Majors
Business, Biology, Psychology
Acceptance Rate
64%
On-Campus Housing
85%
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Post-Grad Success Rate
96%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$57,125
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.0×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
66%
First-year retention
73%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
81%
Pell (lower-income) share
48%
First-generation share
24%
Endowment / student
$89,758
Financial health
2.8 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$61,516
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$58,402
Accounting and Related Services$52,107
Business Administration, Management and Operations$42,458
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,235
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
4.30
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
88
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
16°F
Annual rain
35.7"
Annual snow
31"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
65
Scholarly works
1,017
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.6%
Bottom → top quintile
38%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Coe College?
Coe College's acceptance rate is approximately 64% (Cedar Rapids, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Coe College?
Admitted students at Coe College typically score 1070–1290 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Coe College cost?
At Coe College, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,745 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Coe College?
Coe College enrolls approximately 1,164 undergraduate students.
Where is Coe College located?
Coe College is located in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Admissions
Coe College admits about 64% of applicants—making it 'moderately difficult' to get into, though notably more selective than many regional liberal arts colleges. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 990–1260 on the SAT or 22–27 on the ACT, with an average composite SAT of 1260 (per PrepScholar) or 1170 (per MeetYourClass). Only 8% of students submit SAT scores, suggesting Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policies are widely used. The college emphasizes its selective, nationally recognized liberal arts identity, though its 64% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.—consistent across multiple sources—places it firmly in the 'accessible but not open-door' category for private colleges.
5,529 admitted from 8,633 applications (2024 data)
Enrollment yield: ~22% (1,195 enrolled from 5,529 accepted)
Demographics: Most students are White, with growing diversity; Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare. reports detailed breakdowns but no single dominant minority group.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$37,568
Biology, General$36,560
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$36,042
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Coe offers 60+ majors anchored in the liberal arts, with standouts in business, biology, psychology, and a rare aviation management & flight operations program (paired with a business admin degree). The pre-engineering track leverages Coe’s small-class strengths—students work closely with professors in sciences, a selling point noted by Reddit users. The curriculum is rigorous but supportive, with students praising accessible faculty (one Redditor: 'I know my professors better than peers at big universities').
Top majors: Business, biological/biomedical sciences, psychology (per U.S. News)
Hands-on focus: 'Extensive experiential learning' emphasized, including research and internships
Engineering: 3-2 program with Washington University and Columbia; strong physics/chem foundations
Life at Coe revolves around its residential campus (85% live on-site), where dorms aim to 'support student success' through community-building. The vibe is active but not overwhelming: Greek life is present (though not dominant), intramural sports and clubs like theater and art history draw crowds, and Cedar Rapids offers low-key urban escapes. Instagram posts from @coe_studentlife highlight wellness initiatives, interfaith programs, and Kohawk pride—typical of a school where 'you won’t remember the homework, but you’ll remember the people.'
Housing: Required for first two years; options include themed floors
Dining: Meal plans mandatory for on-campus students
Safety: Niche reviews note a generally secure, walkable campus
Coe’s 96% post-grad success rate (employed or in grad school) outshines its 59% six-year graduation rate, suggesting students who persist land solid outcomes. Alumni earnings data isn’t stellar (typical for liberal arts schools), but the college touts strong regional employer networks. Notably, Pell Grant recipients graduate at 64%—matching the overall rate and signaling decent socioeconomic mobility.
Graduation rate: 59% (54th percentile nationally)
Employment: 96% of 2019–20 grads employed/continuing education (per Facebook report)
ROI: Mixed; College Scorecard shows modest median earnings (~$44K early career)
At $58,780 sticker price, Coe is pricey but typical for private colleges—though 79% of students receive aid, slashing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $21,237. First-year packages average $59,523 (scholarships, grants, loans), with $8,597 in loans typical. The Net Price Calculator suggests many pay far less, especially with Merit aidScholarship money awarded for achievements like grades, talents, or test scores — not based on your family's financial need. (Coe isn’t need-blind but offers substantial scholarships).
Coe punches above its weight with aviation management (rare at liberal arts schools), 96% job/grad school rates, and a tight residential community where professors know students by name. It’s not the fanciest or most selective liberal arts college, but for Midwestern students seeking small classes, strong sciences/business, and a balance of support and independence, Coe delivers—especially with aid bringing costs down to public-university levels.
Coe College logo · sourceCoe College | Campus Map · sourceOne of the Best Small Colleges in the Country | Coe College · sourceCoe College continues to be a Top Performer on Social Mobility | Coe College · source
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