Buena Vista University vs Coe College
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Buena Vista University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Coe College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Buena Vista University at $27,595 vs Coe College at $26,551. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $54,950 vs $56,450.
| Metric | Buena Vista University | Coe College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Ia | Ia |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $27,595 | $26,551* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $54,950 | $56,450* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer and Information Sciences (94/100) | Computer Science (95/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $23,514 | $22,739* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
Buena Vista University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Coe College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Buena Vista University at $27,595 vs Coe College at $26,551. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $54,950 vs $56,450.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Debt loads run similar between the two schools — averages of $26,551 and $27,595 respectively. With debt comparable, the financial decision essentially reduces to the earnings side: which degree, from which school, produces the better post-graduation income trajectory.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $54,950 and $56,450. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Ia, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.