Economics at Coe College

Coe College's economics graduates start nearly $10,000 behind their peers at Iowa's public universities, earning $42,311 in their first year compared to the state median of $49,314. That's 40th percentile in Iowa—essentially middle-of-the-road among the state's 17 economics programs. Nationally, the picture is weaker: these graduates land in just the 16th percentile for earnings despite having one of the lowest debt loads in the country (5th percentile nationally at $27,000). The 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, but you're paying private college tuition for outcomes that trail Iowa State by $15,000 annually.

The catch here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing significantly year to year. A few graduates pursuing graduate school or taking gap years could drag the median down considerably. Still, even accounting for volatility, there's a notable gap between Coe's results and what larger Iowa programs deliver. Grinnell, another small liberal arts college in Iowa, produces graduates earning $4,500 more despite a similar educational model.

For families considering Coe, the economics program offers low debt exposure but underwhelming early earnings. If your child has strong academics (Coe's average SAT is 1206), they'd likely gain admission to University of Iowa or Iowa State, where economics graduates earn 19-36% more right out of the gate. Unless Coe offers substantial merit aid or your child thrives specifically in small college environments, the public universities present clearer economic value.