Head-to-head comparison
Luther College vs Coe College: which has better ROI?
Option A Decorah, IA
Luther College
- Net price / year
- $23,097
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,850
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Option B Cedar Rapids, IA
Coe College
- Net price / year
- $18,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,125
- Payback
- 8.6 yrs
Luther College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,388 in 8 years versus 8.6 years at Coe College, on median earnings of $59,850 vs $57,125 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Luther College | Coe College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,097 | $18,745 |
| Total net cost | $92,388 | $74,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,850 | $57,125 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 8.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $137,412 | $100,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Luther College or Coe College?
Coe College, at $18,745 a year after aid versus $23,097 — a gap of $4,352 a year, or $17,408 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 Luther College or Coe College graduates earn more?
Luther College graduates report a median $59,850 ten years after entry, $2,725 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, Luther College or Coe College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Luther 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.