Head-to-head comparison
Simpson College vs Coe College: which has better ROI?
Option A Indianola, IA
Simpson College
- Net price / year
- $21,936
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,274
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Option B Cedar Rapids, IA
Coe College
- Net price / year
- $18,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,125
- Payback
- 8.6 yrs
Simpson College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,744 in 8 years versus 8.6 years at Coe College, on median earnings of $59,274 vs $57,125 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Simpson College | Coe College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,936 | $18,745 |
| Total net cost | $87,744 | $74,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,274 | $57,125 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 8.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $130,536 | $100,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Simpson College or Coe College?
Coe College, at $18,745 a year after aid versus $21,936 — a gap of $3,191 a year, or $12,764 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 Simpson College or Coe College graduates earn more?
Simpson College graduates report a median $59,274 ten years after entry, $2,149 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, Simpson College or Coe College?
Simpson 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?
66% of students finish at Coe College, against 63% at Simpson 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.