Saint Ambrose University vs Coe College: which has better ROI?
Coe College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,980 in 8.6 years versus 8.8 years at Saint Ambrose University, on median earnings of $57,125 vs $59,531 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Ambrose University | Coe College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,691 | $18,745 |
| Total net cost | $98,764 | $74,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,531 | $57,125 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 8.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $124,656 | $100,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Ambrose University or Coe College?
Coe College, at $18,745 a year after aid versus $24,691 — a gap of $5,946 a year, or $23,784 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Ambrose University or Coe College graduates earn more?
Saint Ambrose University graduates report a median $59,531 ten years after entry, $2,406 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Saint Ambrose University or Coe College?
Saint Ambrose University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Coe College, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Coe College, against 61% at Saint Ambrose University. 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.