Coe College jumps up in U.S. News national liberal arts and social mobility ranks
Another national publication has named Coe as a best college in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked Coe as a Best National Liberal Arts College and as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. Coe rose 10 spots to #126 in the liberal arts college category and rose four spots to #81 in the social mobility category. In Iowa specifically, Coe ranks #2 among liberal arts colleges regarding social mobility.
The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700
U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors like graduation rates and post-graduate earnings to measure academic quality and graduate success.
Washington Monthly recently named Coe a top liberal arts college based on contributions to the public good, which heavily considers social mobility in its rankings’ factors.
“I’m proud Coe is recognized as a top liberal arts college where creative and critical thinking flourishes and students are uplifted socioeconomically as a direct reflection of our learning environment,” said Coe College President David Hayes ’93. “When you combine knowledge with practical application, it builds a confidence and competence that sets Kohawks apart in the professional world.”
The support systems in place at Coe help ensure all students have the assistance and guidance needed to succeed at the college level and beyond. The Princeton Review ranks Coe #14 in the nation for Student Support and Counseling Services, and Coe provides every incoming student with a success coach from the Office of Student Success & Persistence who helps on an individual level by introducing resources and reminding students of important requirements and milestones. All students also have the advantage of the Learning Commons as a central resource on campus providing tutors, writing assistance and academic support. In and out of the classroom, Kohawks learn from the #18 Most Accessible Professors and benefit from early professional mentorship and networking coaching with the #11 Career Services, also ranked by The Princeton Review.