Central College vs. Simpson College

Should I go to Central College or Simpson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central 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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Central College vs. Simpson College comparison
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Central College Simpson College
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Overview

Central College Simpson College
Location Pella, IA Indianola, IA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,169 1,151
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #519 #412
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu simpson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central College Simpson College
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $44,202
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $44,202
Room & Board $10,860 $9,654
Avg Net Price $23,303 $23,185
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $35,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Central College Simpson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 1,569
Admitted 1,561 1,398
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 89.1%
Enrolled % 22.5% 21.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.62
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 20/27
SAT Range 1040/1218 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

Central College Simpson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Central College Simpson College
Graduation Rate 63% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Central College Simpson College
% Men 52% 48%
% Women 48% 52%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 88%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Central College Simpson College
% In-State 73% 67%
% Out-of-State 26% 32%

Campus

Central 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

  • Central College is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (1,169 students vs. 1,151 students)

Central College vs. Simpson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or Simpson College?

  • Simpson College is 123.2% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.2% higher at Simpson College than Central College ($44,202.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Central College ($23,185 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 12.5% lower than costs at Central College ($9,654 vs. $10,860)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central College as Simpson College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 226.4% larger than aid received Central College ($35,898 vs. $10,999)

Central College vs. Simpson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Simpson College (1104) is 36 points higher than at Central College (1068)
  • Incoming Simpson College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Central College (3.52)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Central College (79.2%)

Central College vs. Simpson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central 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 Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Central College (69% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates of Central College and Simpson College have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($48,000 vs. $48,000)
  • Simpson College and Central College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Simpson College and Central College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simpson College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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