Simpson College vs. Winona State University

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

Simpson College Winona State University
Location Indianola, IA Winona, MN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,151 6,154
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #412 #533
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simpson.edu winona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simpson College Winona State University
Tuition (In State) $44,202 $8,388
Tuition (Out of State) $44,202 $15,120
Room & Board $9,654 $9,654
Avg Net Price $23,185 $18,187
Avg Grant Aid $35,898 $5,017
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Simpson College Winona State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 5,367
Admitted 1,398 3,958
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 73.7%
Enrolled % 21.6% 29.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.44
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 19/25
SAT Range 890/1280 1000/1270
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Simpson College Winona State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Simpson College Winona State University
Graduation Rate 69% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

Simpson College Winona State University
% Men 48% 30%
% Women 52% 70%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 87%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

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

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winona State University is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (6,154 students vs. 1,151 students)

Simpson College vs. Winona State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Simpson College is 427% more expensive to attend than Winona State University for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $8,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 192.3% higher at Simpson College than Winona State University ($44,202.00 vs. $15,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winona State University than Simpson College ($18,187 vs. $23,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winona State University are 0% lower than costs at Simpson College ($9,654 vs. $9,654)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simpson College than Winona State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 615.5% larger than aid received Winona State University ($35,898 vs. $5,017)

Simpson College vs. Winona State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Simpson College (1104) is 54 points higher than at Winona State University (1050)
  • Incoming Simpson College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Winona State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Winona State University (3.44)
  • Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Winona State University (73.7%)

Simpson College vs. Winona State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simpson College or Winona 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 Winona State University and Simpson College.

  • The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Winona State University (69% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Simpson College earn on average $1,900 more per year than Winona State University graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $46,100)
  • Winona State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Simpson College graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Winona State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Simpson College graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Simpson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Winona State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 75%)

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