Simpson College vs. Southern Adventist University

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

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
Location Indianola, IA Collegedale, TN
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,151 2,903
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #412 #563
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Seventh Day Adventists - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simpson.edu southern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
Tuition (In State) $44,202 $22,980
Tuition (Out of State) $44,202 $22,980
Room & Board $9,654 $8,330
Avg Net Price $23,185 $24,332
Avg Grant Aid $35,898 $14,000
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 2,490
Admitted 1,398 1,638
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 65.8%
Enrolled % 21.6% 38.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 19/26
SAT Range 890/1280 980/1280
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

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (5%)

Outcomes

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
Graduation Rate 69% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $274

Diversity

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
% Men 48% 43%
% Women 52% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 88% 48%
% Black 2% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
% In-State 67% 18%
% Out-of-State 32% 77%

Campus

Simpson College Southern Adventist University
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

  • Southern Adventist University is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (2,903 students vs. 1,151 students)

Simpson College vs. Southern Adventist University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simpson College or Southern Adventist University?

  • Simpson College is 92.3% more expensive to attend than Southern Adventist University for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $22,980.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 92.3% higher at Simpson College than Southern Adventist University ($44,202.00 vs. $22,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Southern Adventist University ($23,185 vs. $24,332)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Adventist University are 15.9% lower than costs at Simpson College ($8,330 vs. $9,654)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College than Southern Adventist University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 156.4% larger than aid received Southern Adventist University ($35,898 vs. $14,000)

Simpson College vs. Southern Adventist University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Southern Adventist University (3.59)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Southern Adventist University (65.8%)

Simpson College vs. Southern Adventist University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simpson College or Southern Adventist 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 Southern Adventist University and Simpson College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Southern Adventist University (69% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Simpson College earn on average $3,400 more per year than Southern Adventist University graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $44,600)
  • Southern Adventist University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($26,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Southern Adventist University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($274 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Adventist University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)

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