Drake vs. Simpson College

Should I go to Drake University or Simpson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Drake 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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Drake University vs. Simpson College comparison
Drake University Simpson College College 3 College 4
Drake University Simpson College
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Overview

Drake Simpson College
Location Des Moines, IA Indianola, IA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,685 1,151
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #149 #412
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drake.edu simpson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drake Simpson College
Tuition (In State) $47,564 $44,202
Tuition (Out of State) $47,564 $44,202
Room & Board $11,570 $9,654
Avg Net Price $30,333 $23,185
Avg Grant Aid $31,274 $35,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Drake Simpson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,621 1,569
Admitted 5,796 1,398
Acceptance Rate 67.2% 89.1%
Enrolled % 12.6% 21.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 20/27
SAT Range 1110/1340 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

Drake Simpson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Drake Simpson College
Graduation Rate 75% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $68,500 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

Drake Simpson College
% Men 37% 48%
% Women 63% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 88%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 7% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Drake Simpson College
% In-State 35% 67%
% Out-of-State 63% 32%

Campus

Drake 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

  • Drake University is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (4,685 students vs. 1,151 students)

Drake vs. Simpson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake or Simpson College?

  • Drake University is 7.6% more expensive to attend than Simpson College for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $44,202.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.6% higher at Drake than Simpson College ($47,564.00 vs. $44,202.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Drake ($23,185 vs. $30,333)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 19.8% lower than costs at Drake University ($9,654 vs. $11,570)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Drake University as Simpson College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 14.8% larger than aid received Drake University ($35,898 vs. $31,274)

Drake vs. Simpson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 120 points higher than at Simpson College (1104)
  • Incoming Drake students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Simpson College (3.62)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Drake (67.2%)

Drake vs. Simpson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Drake 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 Drake.

  • The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Simpson College (75% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from Drake University earn on average $20,500 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $48,000)
  • Drake University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Drake graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simpson College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 77%)

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