Academics
Tiny Coe College is truly a gem of the Midwest. This 1,400-student Cedar Rapids liberal arts college offers more than sixty areas of study and a nearly 100 percent employment (or graduate school) rate, with half of all students eventually going on to graduate studies. Every Coe student participates in an internship, student research, practicum, or off-campus study during their four years, fostering “an environment where student growth through leadership and responsibility is possible.” Coe has been named one of the Top 25 Best Schools for Internships in the U.S. two years in a row. “We are equipped to make things happen for ourselves while we are here and once we leave,” says one student. The Coe community is so close knit that “once one Kohawk goes and finds success somewhere, they make sure to bring others along with them.”
Professors are “devoted to the understanding of course context and success of the students,” and many of the classes are discussion-based, so “attendance is important.” Students learn very quickly the dangers of falling behind, and academics can be “very difficult, but in a way that [is] enjoyable and strengthening.” The school “has a great aptitude for raising the bar when it comes to [the] personal development of its students” and the Learning Commons provides guidance and help with class material for those who need it. Teachers here “love sharing knowledge and finding opportunities for students to achieve their fullest potential,” and it is not unheard of that a professor “sometimes has to trim the syllabi to fit into our 16-week semester.” Another big strength is the opportunities for undergraduate research and travel with professors, which allows students “to gain skill and knowledge that may not be available at a bigger college.”
