Coe College vs. ISU

Should I go to Coe College or Iowa State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Coe College or ISU 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.

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Coe College vs. Iowa State University comparison
Coe College Iowa State University College 3 College 4
Coe College Iowa State University
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Overview

Coe College ISU
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Ames, IA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 1,278 30,177
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #397 #351
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coe.edu iastate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Coe College ISU
Tuition (In State) $52,226 $8,982
Tuition (Out of State) $52,226 $26,168
Room & Board $11,336 $9,726
Avg Net Price $20,940 $17,354
Avg Grant Aid $43,772 $10,718
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 77%

Admission

Coe College ISU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,171 22,995
Admitted 5,068 20,496
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 89.1%
Enrolled % 7.1% 28.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 21/28
SAT Range 1080/1280 1110/1350
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 ISU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Coe College ISU
Graduation Rate 69% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,100 $53,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,105 $23,868
Median Loan Payment $290 $246

Diversity

Coe College ISU
% Men 1% 8%
% Women 2% 8%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 76%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Coe College ISU
% In-State 38% 52%
% Out-of-State 56% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Iowa State University is larger than than Coe College based on total student enrollment (30,177 students vs. 1,278 students)

Coe College vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coe College or ISU?

  • Coe College is 481.5% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($52,226.00 vs. $8,982.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.6% higher at Coe College than Iowa State University ($52,226.00 vs. $26,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Coe College ($17,354 vs. $20,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 16.6% lower than costs at Coe College ($9,726 vs. $11,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Coe College than Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Coe College students is 308.4% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($43,772 vs. $10,718)

Coe College vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Iowa State University (1142) is 16 points higher than at Coe College (1126)
  • Incoming Coe College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at ISU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Coe College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at ISU (3.7)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Coe College (70.7%)

Coe College vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Coe College or ISU? 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 ISU and Coe College.

  • The graduation rate at Coe College is higher than Iowa State University (69% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Coe College graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $48,100)
  • Iowa State University students graduate with a $4,237 lower median federal student loan debt than Coe College graduates. ($23,868 vs. $28,105)
  • ISU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Coe College graduates. ($246 vs. $290)
  • More Coe College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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