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, residential liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that operates with a refreshingly straightforward and supportive ethos. It offers a classic, hands-on liberal arts education across more than 60 disciplines, wrapped in a tight-knit campus community where Greek life and student organizations provide the social pulse. This is a place for students who want a personalized academic experience without the cutthroat admissions drama, and where the average financial aid package dramatically reshapes the sticker price.
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
Areas of Study
60+
Graduation Rate
66%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$57,125
Early Decision Deadline
November 15
Regular Decision Deadline
March 1
Average First-Year Aid Offer (Fall 2025)
$59,523
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
36%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
24%
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
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's admissions process is characterized by its accessibility. The college is classified as 'less selective' or 'somewhat selective,' with a clear majority of applicants receiving an offer of admission. The process includes an Early Decision plan with a November 15 deadline, which promises an admission decision and preliminary financial aid award by December 10. For the broader applicant pool, the regular admission deadline is March 1. While the admissions office undoubtedly reviews the full application, the high suggests a that places significant weight on a student's academic preparation and fit for the residential liberal arts model, rather than creating an artificially scarce admit pool. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is notably low, indicating that Coe is often one of several options for admitted students.
The academic experience at Coe is defined by breadth, flexibility, and direct engagement with faculty. Students can choose from more than 60 majors and areas of study, spanning the traditional liberal arts spectrum from African American Studies and Art to the sciences and psychology. The curriculum is designed to be rigorous and comprehensive, with a structure that makes double-majoring a common and manageable pursuit. The college has also shown responsiveness to contemporary job markets, recently adding new academic concentrations in healthcare administration, nutrition, and supply chain management. Beyond the classroom, Coe emphasizes 'extensive hands-on experiences,' which includes internships and study abroad opportunities. The prevailing sentiment from students highlights the kindness and helpfulness of professors, fostering a supportive rather than sink-or-swim learning environment.
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.
Life at Coe is intensely campus-centric, a function of its identity as a residential college where 'all the activities, games and hang-out spots are always a short walk away.' The social and co-curricular landscape is largely student-driven, with numerous clubs and organizations covering academics, recreation, religion, social interest, and service. Greek life is a significant and active part of the campus culture. The college promotes a 'student-centered, highly supportive campus environment' that extends beyond clubs to include robust support resources like tutoring for every major and a writing center. The vibe is one of a self-contained community where students are encouraged to build connections and find their niche, with the college itself noting that after graduation, 'you're not going to remember that test you took sophomore year' as much as the community you built.
The published tuition and fees at Coe tell only a small part of the financial story, as institutional aid plays a massive role for most students. The college reports that the average financial aid offer for incoming first-year students for Fall 2025 was $59,523, a sum that includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. This substantial aid package dramatically reduces the for families. To apply for , students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The college provides a Net Price Calculator to help families estimate their individual financial aid options. While Coe offers need-based financial aid to admitted students who file the FAFSA, the available sources do not indicate the presence of a 'no-loan' policy where 100% of need is met with grants alone; loans are typically part of the aid package.
Coe College stands out as a deliberate and unpretentious option in the liberal arts landscape. It doesn't chase the impossible selectivity of its more famous peers; instead, it focuses its energy on providing a substantive, supportive, and personalized education to a wide range of students who are ready to engage. Its strength lies in the classic liberal arts formula executed well: accessible faculty, a flexible curriculum encouraging exploration and double majors, and a strong emphasis on internships and hands-on learning. The recent addition of pragmatic concentrations like supply chain management shows a college thoughtfully bridging liberal arts foundations with contemporary career pathways. Combined with a vibrant, self-contained campus life and financial aid packages that make the education accessible, Coe offers a clear-value proposition for students seeking a traditional college experience defined by community and individual attention, not cutthroat competition.
Coe College seal · 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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