Simpson College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Indianola, Iowa. It enrolls 1,227 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes61
Value50
Affordability48
Selectivity51
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.2%, Simpson College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Simpson College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Simpson College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,936 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,936
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
71%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$47,656
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,500
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,548
Books & Supplies
$1,168
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,202
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,138
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,227
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,941
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,764
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,176
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,468
Over $110,000
$26,586
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,19125%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$29,00075%percentile
$35,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,000
↓ $8,000
No Pell $21,996
↓ $4,004
Dependent students $20,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $17,438
↓ $8,562
Female students $20,500
↓ $5,500
Male students $19,500
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,895, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
75% of full-time students who enrolled at Simpson College graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
75%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Simpson College earn a median of $59,274 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,274
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,300, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Simpson College is home to 1,227 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,227
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
23%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.5%889
Hispanic 12.9%158
Other 4.6%57
Black 4.2%52
International 2.7%33
Asian 1.9%23
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Simpson College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeIndianola, Iowa
Housing
Strongly residential1,282 beds for 1,227 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Simpson College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Simpson College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$109M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,105
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
76 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
32
42%
$68,748
Associate Professors
13
17%
$62,782
Assistant Professors
22
29%
$56,702
Instructors
9
12%
$50,717
Pros & Cons of Simpson College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Simpson College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Simpson College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Simpson College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Simpson College.
Is Simpson College hard to get into?
Simpson College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Simpson College?
Simpson College has an acceptance rate of 86.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Simpson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Simpson College scored between 31 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Simpson College cost?
The average net price after aid at Simpson College is $21,936 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Simpson College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,274 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,936 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Simpson College known for?
Simpson College is best known for its programs in Health Sciences, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Simpson College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Simpson College are $59,274, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Simpson College accredited?
Yes. Simpson College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Simpson College?
Simpson College enrolls 1,227 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Simpson College?
Simpson College graduates 75% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Simpson College a public or private college?
Simpson College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Simpson College located?
Simpson College is located in Indianola, Iowa.
What programs does Simpson College offer?
Simpson College offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Sciences, Business Administration, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Simpson College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Simpson College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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