Eckerd College vs. Simpson College

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

Eckerd College Simpson College
Location Saint Petersburg, FL Indianola, IA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,993 1,151
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #346 #412
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eckerd.edu simpson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Eckerd College Simpson College
Tuition (In State) $48,220 $44,202
Tuition (Out of State) $48,220 $44,202
Room & Board $13,854 $9,654
Avg Net Price $40,119 $23,185
Avg Grant Aid $26,456 $35,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Eckerd College Simpson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,549 1,569
Admitted 3,612 1,398
Acceptance Rate 65.1% 89.1%
Enrolled % 15.1% 21.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/29 20/27
SAT Range 1120/1300 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

Eckerd College Simpson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Eckerd College Simpson College
Graduation Rate 63% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,400 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Eckerd College Simpson College
% Men 30% 48%
% Women 70% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 88%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Eckerd College Simpson College
% In-State 17% 67%
% Out-of-State 78% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Eckerd College is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (1,993 students vs. 1,151 students)

Eckerd College vs. Simpson College Cost Comparison

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

  • Eckerd College is 9.1% more expensive to attend than Simpson College for in-state tuition ($48,220.00 vs. $44,202.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.1% higher at Eckerd College than Simpson College ($48,220.00 vs. $44,202.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Eckerd College ($23,185 vs. $40,119)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 43.5% lower than costs at Eckerd College ($9,654 vs. $13,854)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Eckerd College as Simpson College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 35.7% larger than aid received Eckerd College ($35,898 vs. $26,456)

Eckerd College vs. Simpson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eckerd College (1134) is 30 points higher than at Simpson College (1104)
  • Incoming Eckerd College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Eckerd College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Simpson College (3.62)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Eckerd College (65.1%)

Eckerd College vs. Simpson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eckerd 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 Eckerd College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Eckerd College (69% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Eckerd College earn on average $400 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($48,400 vs. $48,000)
  • Simpson College and Eckerd College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Simpson College and Eckerd College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eckerd College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 65%)

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