Simpson College

6/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Indianola, IA
2.0 1 review

#6 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,251

Location Indianola, Iowa
Website simpson.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Distant Town
Religious Affiliation United Methodist

Best Colleges Rank

#436

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, sits 12 miles south of Des Moines in a residential community. Founded in 1860 as a Methodist-affiliated liberal arts institution, the 85-acre campus features a mix of historic and modern buildings centered around a traditional collegiate quadrangle. The college maintains a selective admission process and offers undergraduate programs across liberal arts disciplines, with notable strengths in business, education, and natural sciences, while its music program is particularly recognized for opera performance. Students are required to live on campus for three years, with housing options including traditional residence halls and theme houses, and the Simpson Storm athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III as members of the American Rivers Conference.

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Ratings

Simpson College is rated within the top 43% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10.

Overall Rating

6 out of 10
Academics

6 out of 10
Resources

7 out of 10
Outcomes

6 out of 10
Value

9 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Simpson College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Average

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 890/1280
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 20/27
GPA 3.62

Acceptance Rate

86.2%

Applications Due Aug 15, 2027
Enrollment Rate 21.6%
Application Fee $0

Applicant Competition Very Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$47,656

Costs for Simpson College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$47,656
Books and Supplies		$1,168
Other Fees		$906
Room and Board		$10,500
Budget for Other Expenses		$4,202
Total One Year Cost		$64,432

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$48,000 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

69% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Simpson College are Business, Education, and Social Sciences. 22% of students major in Business, 11% in Education, and 8% in Social Sciences.