Simpson College vs. South Dakota State University

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

Simpson College South Dakota State University
Location Indianola, IA Brookings, SD
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,151 11,327
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #412 #600
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simpson.edu sdstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simpson College South Dakota State University
Tuition (In State) $44,202 $7,773
Tuition (Out of State) $44,202 $11,283
Room & Board $9,654 $8,087
Avg Net Price $23,185 $18,160
Avg Grant Aid $35,898 $4,551
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Simpson College South Dakota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 6,364
Admitted 1,398 5,478
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 86.1%
Enrolled % 21.6% 40%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 19/25
SAT Range 890/1280 1020/1245
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

Simpson College South Dakota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Agriculture (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Simpson College South Dakota State University
Graduation Rate 69% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $47,700
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,116
Median Loan Payment $279 $259

Diversity

Simpson College South Dakota State University
% Men 48% 44%
% Women 52% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 88%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Simpson College South Dakota State University
% In-State 67% 50%
% Out-of-State 32% 48%

Campus

Simpson College South Dakota State 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

  • South Dakota State University is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (11,327 students vs. 1,151 students)

Simpson College vs. South Dakota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simpson College or South Dakota State University?

  • Simpson College is 468.7% more expensive to attend than South Dakota State University for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $7,773.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 291.8% higher at Simpson College than South Dakota State University ($44,202.00 vs. $11,283.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at South Dakota State University than Simpson College ($18,160 vs. $23,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota State University are 19.4% lower than costs at Simpson College ($8,087 vs. $9,654)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College as South Dakota State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 688.8% larger than aid received South Dakota State University ($35,898 vs. $4,551)

Simpson College vs. South Dakota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Simpson College (1104) is 36 points higher than at South Dakota State University (1068)
  • Incoming Simpson College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at South Dakota State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at South Dakota State University (3.53)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than South Dakota State University (86.1%)

Simpson College vs. South Dakota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simpson College or South Dakota State 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 South Dakota State University and Simpson College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than South Dakota State University (69% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Simpson College earn on average $300 more per year than South Dakota State University graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $47,700)
  • South Dakota State University students graduate with a $1,884 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($25,116 vs. $27,000)
  • South Dakota State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($259 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Dakota State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 77%)

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