Coe College vs. CBU

Should I go to Coe College or Christian Brothers University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Coe College or CBU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Cornell College Luther- Norse Grinnell Loyola Mount Mercy College Augustana Drake Memphis Creighton University Knox College University of St Thomas
Coe College vs. Christian Brothers University comparison
Coe College Christian Brothers University College 3 College 4
Coe College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Coe College CBU
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Memphis, TN
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 1,278 2,043
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #397 #588
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coe.edu cbu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Coe College CBU
Tuition (In State) $52,226 $37,300
Tuition (Out of State) $52,226 $37,300
Room & Board $11,336 $10,731
Avg Net Price $20,940 $17,068
Avg Grant Aid $43,772 $29,076
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Coe College CBU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,171 1,105
Admitted 5,068 977
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 88.4%
Enrolled % 7.1% 20.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 18/23
SAT Range 1080/1280 1040/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2026

Academics

Coe College CBU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Psychology (18%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Coe College CBU
Graduation Rate 69% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,100 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,105 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $290 $279

Diversity

Coe College CBU
% Men 1% 24%
% Women 2% 18%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 74% 43%
% Black 6% 29%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

Coe College CBU
% In-State 38% 67%
% Out-of-State 56% 24%

Campus

Coe College CBU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Christian Brothers University is larger than than Coe College based on total student enrollment (2,043 students vs. 1,278 students)

Coe College vs. CBU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coe College or CBU?

  • Coe College is 40% more expensive to attend than CBU for in-state tuition ($52,226.00 vs. $37,300.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40% higher at Coe College than Christian Brothers University ($52,226.00 vs. $37,300.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christian Brothers University than Coe College ($17,068 vs. $20,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christian Brothers University are 5.6% lower than costs at Coe College ($10,731 vs. $11,336)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Coe College as Christian Brothers University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Coe College students is 50.5% larger than aid received Christian Brothers University ($43,772 vs. $29,076)

Coe College vs. CBU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coe College or CBU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CBU or Coe College .

  • The average SAT score at Coe College (1126) is 21 points higher than at CBU (1105)
  • Incoming Coe College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at CBU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Coe College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at CBU (3.67)
  • CBU has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Coe College (70.7%)

Coe College vs. CBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Coe College or CBU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CBU and Coe College.

  • The graduation rate at Coe College is higher than Christian Brothers University (69% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Christian Brothers University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Coe College graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $48,100)
  • Christian Brothers University students graduate with a $1,105 lower median federal student loan debt than Coe College graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,105)
  • CBU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Coe College graduates. ($279 vs. $290)
  • More Coe College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CBU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/