Simpson College vs. Bethel University

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

 Simpson College Bethel University
Location Indianola, IA Saint Paul, MN
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,151 3,546
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #412 #238
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simpson.edu bethel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Simpson College Bethel University
Tuition (In State) $44,202 $41,110
Tuition (Out of State) $44,202 $41,110
Room & Board $9,654 $11,490
Avg Net Price $23,185 $29,915
Avg Grant Aid $35,898 $24,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 Simpson College Bethel University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 2,199
Admitted 1,398 1,594
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 72.5%
Enrolled % 21.6% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 20/28
SAT Range 890/1280 1123/1343
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

 Simpson College Bethel 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%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 Simpson College Bethel University
Graduation Rate 69% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $50,100
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,400
Median Loan Payment $279 $252

Diversity

 Simpson College Bethel University
% Men 48% 38%
% Women 52% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 78%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

 Simpson College Bethel University
% In-State 67% 79%
% Out-of-State 32% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (3,546 students vs. 1,151 students)

Simpson College vs. Bethel University Cost Comparison

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

  • Simpson College is 7.5% more expensive to attend than Bethel University for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $41,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.5% higher at Simpson College than Bethel University ($44,202.00 vs. $41,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Bethel University ($23,185 vs. $29,915)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 19% lower than costs at Bethel University ($9,654 vs. $11,490)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College than Bethel University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 46% larger than aid received Bethel University ($35,898 vs. $24,586)

Simpson College vs. Bethel University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bethel University (1127) is 23 points higher than at Simpson College (1104)
  • Incoming Bethel University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Bethel University (3.6)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Bethel University (72.5%)

Simpson College vs. Bethel University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simpson College or Bethel 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 Bethel University and Simpson College.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel University is higher than Simpson College (73% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $2,100 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($50,100 vs. $48,000)
  • Bethel University students graduate with a $2,600 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($24,400 vs. $27,000)
  • Bethel University graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($252 vs. $279)
  • More Bethel University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simpson College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 77%)

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