Head-to-head comparison
Coe College vs Loras College: which has better ROI?
Option A Cedar Rapids, IA
Coe College
- Net price / year
- $18,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,125
- Payback
- 8.6 yrs
Option B Dubuque, IA
Loras College
- Net price / year
- $20,716
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,289
- Payback
- 8.3 yrs
Loras College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,864 in 8.3 years versus 8.6 years at Coe College, on median earnings of $58,289 vs $57,125 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Coe College | Loras College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,745 | $20,716 |
| Total net cost | $74,980 | $82,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,125 | $58,289 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 8.6 yrs | 8.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $100,320 | $115,716 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Coe College or Loras College?
Coe College, at $18,745 a year after aid versus $20,716 — a gap of $1,971 a year, or $7,884 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Coe College or Loras College graduates earn more?
Loras College graduates report a median $58,289 ten years after entry, $1,164 more than the $57,125 at Coe College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Coe College or Loras College?
Loras College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Coe College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Loras College, against 66% at Coe College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.