Simpson College vs. University of Missouri-Columbia

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

Simpson College University of Missouri-Columbia
Location Indianola, IA Columbia, MO
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,151 31,304
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #412 #278
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simpson.edu missouri.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simpson College University of Missouri-Columbia
Tuition (In State) $44,202 $10,452
Tuition (Out of State) $44,202 $30,441
Room & Board $9,654 $10,890
Avg Net Price $23,185 $19,889
Avg Grant Aid $35,898 $11,545
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

Simpson College University of Missouri-Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 20,303
Admitted 1,398 16,065
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 79.1%
Enrolled % 21.6% 31%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 23/30
SAT Range 890/1280 1140/1340
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 University of Missouri-Columbia
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%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Simpson College University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduation Rate 69% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $54,200
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,883
Median Loan Payment $279 $226

Diversity

Simpson College University of Missouri-Columbia
% Men 48% 44%
% Women 52% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 79%
% Black 2% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Simpson College University of Missouri-Columbia
% In-State 67% 70%
% Out-of-State 32% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Missouri Columbia is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (31,304 students vs. 1,151 students)

Simpson College vs. University of Missouri-Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simpson College or University of Missouri-Columbia?

  • Simpson College is 322.9% more expensive to attend than University of Missouri-Columbia for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $10,452.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.2% higher at Simpson College than University of Missouri Columbia ($44,202.00 vs. $30,441.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Missouri Columbia than Simpson College ($19,889 vs. $23,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 12.8% lower than costs at University of Missouri Columbia ($9,654 vs. $10,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College than University of Missouri Columbia (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 210.9% larger than aid received University of Missouri Columbia ($35,898 vs. $11,545)

Simpson College vs. University of Missouri-Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Missouri Columbia (1203) is 99 points higher than at Simpson College (1104)
  • Incoming University of Missouri-Columbia students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Simpson College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at University of Missouri-Columbia (3.61)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than University of Missouri-Columbia (79.1%)

Simpson College vs. University of Missouri-Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simpson College or University of Missouri-Columbia? 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 University of Missouri-Columbia and Simpson College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is the same as at University of Missouri Columbia (69% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from University of Missouri Columbia earn on average $6,200 more per year than Simpson College graduates after ten years. ($54,200 vs. $48,000)
  • University of Missouri Columbia students graduate with a $5,117 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($21,883 vs. $27,000)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($226 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Missouri-Columbia 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/