Simpson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Redding, California. It enrolls 809 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.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes20
Value18
Affordability49
Selectivity31
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86%, Simpson University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Simpson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
46.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Simpson University 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 $27,817 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,817
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
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
$39,708
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,900
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,688
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
$25,511
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,738
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,479
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,656
Over $110,000
$30,163
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
$8,33225%percentile
$18,750Medianpercentile
$23,25075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $14,068
↓ $4,682
No Pell $12,500
↓ $6,250
Dependent students $12,899
↓ $5,851
Independent students $14,365
↓ $4,385
Female students $14,136
↓ $4,614
Male students $12,500
↓ $6,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($18,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Simpson University graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Simpson University earn a median of $54,340 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,340
Earning > $25K
78%
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
$35,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 24% 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 ↑
12.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Simpson University is home to 809 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
809
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.5%360
Hispanic 29.3%237
Other 10.8%87
Asian 4.7%38
Black 4.5%36
International 3.6%29
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Simpson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityRedding, California
Housing
Mostly residential450 beds on campus
Adult Learners
29%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Simpson University offers
a varied set of programs:
21 distinct programs across
14 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 University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$20M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,435
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
35 instructional faculty across 5 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
2
6%
$76,418
Associate Professors
8
23%
$69,771
Assistant Professors
15
43%
$68,613
Instructors
2
6%
$66,560
No Rank
8
23%
$60,862
Pros & Cons of Simpson University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Simpson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Simpson University 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 University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Simpson University.
Is Simpson University hard to get into?
Simpson University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86%.
What is the acceptance rate at Simpson University?
Simpson University has an acceptance rate of 86%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Simpson University cost?
The average net price after aid at Simpson University is $27,817 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Simpson University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,340 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,817 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Simpson University known for?
Simpson University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Simpson University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Simpson University are $54,340, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Simpson University accredited?
Yes. Simpson University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Simpson University?
Simpson University enrolls 809 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Simpson University?
Simpson University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Simpson University a public or private college?
Simpson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Simpson University located?
Simpson University is located in Redding, California.
What programs does Simpson University offer?
Simpson University offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Simpson University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Simpson University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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