Birmingham Southern College vs. Simpson College

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Simpson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Simpson College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Birmingham Southern College vs. Simpson College comparison
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Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
Location Birmingham, AL Indianola, IA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 975 1,151
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #412
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu simpson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $44,202
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $44,202
Room & Board $14,000 $9,654
Avg Net Price $21,153 $23,185
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $35,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 1,569
Admitted 1,726 1,398
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 89.1%
Enrolled % 14.1% 21.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 20/27
SAT Range 1150/1280 890/1280
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
Graduation Rate 62% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $277 $279

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
% Men 53% 48%
% Women 47% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 88%
% Black 11% 2%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
% In-State 55% 67%
% Out-of-State 44% 32%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College Simpson College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Simpson College is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (1,151 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Simpson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or Simpson College?

  • Simpson College is 121% more expensive to attend than Birmingham Southern College for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 121% higher at Simpson College than Birmingham Southern College ($44,202.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Birmingham Southern College than Simpson College ($21,153 vs. $23,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 45% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($9,654 vs. $14,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College as Simpson College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 153.5% larger than aid received Birmingham Southern College ($35,898 vs. $14,163)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Simpson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or Simpson College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Simpson College or Birmingham Southern College .

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 63 points higher than at Simpson College (1104)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Simpson College (3.62)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Birmingham Southern College (57.2%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Simpson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Simpson College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Simpson College and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Birmingham Southern College (69% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $3,000 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $48,000)
  • Birmingham Southern College students graduate with a $150 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($26,850 vs. $27,000)
  • Birmingham Southern College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Birmingham Southern College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/