Simpson College vs. Bellarmine University

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

Simpson College Bellarmine University
Location Indianola, IA Louisville, KY
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,151 2,970
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #412 #375
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simpson.edu bellarmine.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simpson College Bellarmine University
Tuition (In State) $44,202 $44,040
Tuition (Out of State) $44,202 $44,040
Room & Board $9,654 $9,714
Avg Net Price $23,185 $22,813
Avg Grant Aid $35,898 $36,264
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Simpson College Bellarmine University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 3,878
Admitted 1,398 3,404
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 87.8%
Enrolled % 21.6% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 21/27
SAT Range 890/1280 1100/1290
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Simpson College Bellarmine University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

Simpson College Bellarmine University
Graduation Rate 69% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $50,300
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Simpson College Bellarmine University
% Men 48% 37%
% Women 52% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 85%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Simpson College Bellarmine University
% In-State 67% 67%
% Out-of-State 32% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bellarmine University is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (2,970 students vs. 1,151 students)

Simpson College vs. Bellarmine University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simpson College or Bellarmine University?

  • Simpson College is 0.4% more expensive to attend than Bellarmine University for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $44,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.4% higher at Simpson College than Bellarmine University ($44,202.00 vs. $44,040.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bellarmine University than Simpson College ($22,813 vs. $23,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 0.6% lower than costs at Bellarmine University ($9,654 vs. $9,714)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College as Bellarmine University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bellarmine University students is 1% larger than aid received Simpson College ($36,264 vs. $35,898)

Simpson College vs. Bellarmine University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bellarmine University (1120) is 16 points higher than at Simpson College (1104)
  • Incoming Bellarmine University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Bellarmine University (3.42)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Bellarmine University (87.8%)

Simpson College vs. Bellarmine University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simpson College or Bellarmine University? 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 Bellarmine University and Simpson College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Bellarmine University (69% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Bellarmine University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($50,300 vs. $48,000)
  • Bellarmine University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Bellarmine University graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bellarmine University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 73%)

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