Elmhurst College vs. Simpson College

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

Elmhurst College Simpson College
Location Elmhurst, IL Indianola, IA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 3,731 1,151
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #380 #412
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu simpson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College Simpson College
Tuition (In State) $39,862 $44,202
Tuition (Out of State) $39,862 $44,202
Room & Board $11,250 $9,654
Avg Net Price $24,108 $23,185
Avg Grant Aid $27,835 $35,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Elmhurst College Simpson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,731 1,569
Admitted 4,356 1,398
Acceptance Rate 76% 89.1%
Enrolled % 14.2% 21.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.62
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 20/27
SAT Range 980/1240 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

Elmhurst College Simpson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College Simpson College
Graduation Rate 70% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Elmhurst College Simpson College
% Men 38% 48%
% Women 62% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 88%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 17% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Elmhurst College Simpson College
% In-State 78% 67%
% Out-of-State 13% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Elmhurst College is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (3,731 students vs. 1,151 students)

Elmhurst College vs. Simpson College Cost Comparison

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

  • Simpson College is 10.9% more expensive to attend than Elmhurst College for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $39,862.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.9% higher at Simpson College than Elmhurst College ($44,202.00 vs. $39,862.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Elmhurst College ($23,185 vs. $24,108)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 16.5% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($9,654 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College than Elmhurst College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 29% larger than aid received Elmhurst College ($35,898 vs. $27,835)

Elmhurst College vs. Simpson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Simpson College (1104) is 14 points higher than at Elmhurst College (1090)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Elmhurst College (3.59)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Elmhurst College (76%)

Elmhurst College vs. Simpson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Simpson College (70% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $2,200 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $48,000)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elmhurst College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 72%)

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