Simpson College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Simpson College is a private research university in Indianola, Iowa, enrolling about 1,227 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 86.22% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $59,274 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $47,656
- 2024 Average Net Price: $21,936 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 86.22% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,227 97.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 63.33%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 23.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 51.6%
- Average SAT Score: 1440
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,303
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,646
- Room & Board: $10,500 annual estimate
Simpson College: what the data shows
Common questions about Simpson College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Simpson College?
Simpson College is located in Indianola, IA (ZIP 50125).
NCES locale classification: Town fringe.
Is Simpson College public or private?
Simpson College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Simpson College cost?
Published tuition: $47,656.
Average net price after aid: $21,936.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,941 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,764 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,176 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,468 |
| $110,001+ | $26,586 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $190,624.
How hard is it to get into Simpson College?
Admission rate: 86.22%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1440 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Simpson College?
Total enrollment: 1,227 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,303 students.
Graduate enrollment: 16 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Simpson College?
150%-time completion rate: 63.33%.
First-year retention: 81.3%.
What do graduates of Simpson College earn?
Median earnings: $49,946 six years after entry; $59,274 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,000.
34.56% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Simpson College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (29 completions)
- Health and Wellness, General (25 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (18 completions)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (17 completions)
- Accounting (17 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (16 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (16 completions)
- Computer Science (14 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (13 completions)
- Psychology, General (12 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Simpson College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 86.22%; completion rate 63.33%; median earnings $59,274 at 10 years; net price $21,936. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$47,656
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Simpson College was $47,656.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$21,936
2024 Value
In 2024 Simpson College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,936.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$87,744 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$21,936 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$190,624 4-Year Tuition
$10,500 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,168 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$59,324 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$237,296 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Simpson College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
34.56% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
70.61% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Simpson College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Simpson College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $30,999 | $30,999 | $20,163 |
| 2014 | $32,550 | $32,550 | $20,907 |
| 2015 | $34,175 | $34,175 | $22,120 |
| 2016 | $35,876 | $35,876 | $22,964 |
| 2017 | $37,663 | $37,663 | $22,077 |
| 2018 | $39,144 | $39,144 | $23,187 |
| 2019 | $40,666 | $40,666 | $19,151 |
| 2020 | $42,246 | $42,246 | $19,644 |
| 2021 | $44,030 | $44,030 | $20,680 |
| 2022 | $45,108 | $45,108 | $22,925 |
| 2023 | $46,212 | $46,212 | $22,231 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
86.22% Acceptance Rate
1,646 Total Applicants
1,463 Students Admitted
342 First-Time Students Enrolled
23.38% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1440
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.7 - 3.9
Estimated Median GPA: 3.80
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Simpson College reported total enrollment of about 1,227 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (72.5%), Hispanic or Latino (12.9%), and Black or African American (4.2%). About 34.56% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 23.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Simpson College in 2024 is 1,227 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,303 students. Graduate enrollment is about 16 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
81.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 72.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
51.39% 100% Completion Time
63.33% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 51.39% of students graduating from Simpson College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 48% male / 52% female
- Health and Wellness, General: 40% male / 60% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 17% male / 83% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Simpson College.
Return on Investment
$26,000 Median Student Debt
$59,274 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
43.86% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
575.53% Return on Investment
4.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Simpson College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 42 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 29 completions
2. Health and Wellness, General: 25 completions
3. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 18 completions
4. Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 17 completions
5. Accounting: 17 completions
6. Elementary Education and Teaching: 16 completions
7. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 16 completions
8. Computer Science: 14 completions
9. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 13 completions
Most popular programs at Simpson College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Simpson College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Simpson College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 51.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,723
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,667
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Simpson College is a private non-profit institution located in Indianola, IA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Health and Wellness, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Enrollment is approximately 1,227 students. Student body composition includes White (72.5%), Hispanic or Latino (12.9%), Black or African American (4.2%). The admission rate is 86.22%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1440. The 150%-time completion rate is 63.33%. Approximately 34.56% of students receive Pell Grants. About 23.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Indianola, IA 50125
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Simpson College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Simpson College located?
Simpson College is located in Indianola, IA.
What is Simpson College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Simpson College is 86.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,646 applicants and 1,463 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Simpson College cost?
Reported tuition is $47,656 and average net price is $21,936 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,500 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Simpson College?
Simpson College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,303 students, White (72.5%), Hispanic or Latino (12.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Simpson College?
About 23.4% of students at Simpson College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Simpson College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Simpson College reports midpoint SAT about 1440 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Simpson College earn?
Median earnings are $49,946 six years after entry and $59,274 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Simpson College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 63.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Simpson College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is Simpson College public or private?
Simpson College is a private nonprofit institution located in Indianola, IA.
Is Simpson College an HBCU?
No. Simpson College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Simpson College a tribal college?
No. Simpson College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Iowa college costs
- Iowa colleges by ROI
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Iowa
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.