Simpson College
#4 Best Computer Science Colleges in IowaBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.6 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $16.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,373,035.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 45% above the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $16.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Simpson College Matters
Simpson College is a private college in Indianola, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,227
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Simpson College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,936 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,274 ten years after enrolling — 45% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 63% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Students at Simpson College can expect a 10-year earnings average of $59,274 after graduation. This figure indicates a solid return on investment for graduates, especially when considering the overall cost of attendance. The net price for students stands at $21,936, making it a manageable financial option for many.
The Opportunity Insights data does not provide a clear mobility rate for Simpson College, but the graduation rate is 64%, suggesting that a significant number of students complete their degrees. While specific outcomes for the bottom 20% are not available, the general success rate reflects the college's supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds. This can positively influence their long-term economic mobility.
Simpson College is a good fit for students pursuing degrees in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Computer Science & IT, and Communications. With an acceptance rate of 86%, it welcomes a broad range of applicants. Graduates face a median debt of $26,000, which, combined with their earning potential, suggests that many can manage their student loans effectively. Students who thrive here often value a close-knit community and personalized attention in their educational journey.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Simpson College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Simpson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 86% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,440. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 64%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Simpson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Simpson College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $47,656 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,936 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,941 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Simpson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Simpson College earn a median of $59,274, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Simpson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Simpson College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Simpson College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,936/year ($87,744 total). Graduates earn $59,274 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,460,779 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,373,035 (16.6× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Simpson College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Simpson College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 39.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Simpson College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Simpson College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Simpson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 86% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,440. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Simpson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Simpson College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $47,656 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,936 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,941 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.
Is Simpson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Simpson College earn a median of $59,274, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Simpson College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Simpson College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 39.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Simpson College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Simpson College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Simpson College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Simpson College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Simpson College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note