Simpson University
- Graduation Rate
- 45% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,340 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $27,817 D
- 62% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,046,580.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 33% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 45% — 21% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Simpson University Matters
Simpson University is a private liberal arts college in Redding, CA 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 Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 809
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI · 34
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Humanities
Why students choose Simpson University
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 $27,817 a year after grants and scholarships — 62% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,340 ten years after enrolling — 33% above the typical college, against $18,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 40% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.53 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Simpson University has an acceptance rate of 86%, making it highly accessible to students. This means that a larger pool of applicants can find a place here, which can be crucial for those looking for a welcoming environment.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific outcomes and mobility statistics for Simpson University are not available. However, the university's commitment to supporting diverse student backgrounds is indicated by a 44% Pell Grant rate. This suggests that many students come from lower-income families, which is an important factor in understanding the potential for upward mobility among graduates.
The net price of attending Simpson University is $27,817, with a median debt of $18,750 after graduation. Graduates earn an average of $54,340 within ten years of completing their degree. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Health Professions, Psychology, Business & Marketing, Humanities, or Communications, finding a supportive community as they navigate their educational journeys.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Simpson University 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 University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Redding, California, Simpson University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 60%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,504
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
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 University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Simpson University is $39,708, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,817. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,511 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $39,708
- Out-of-State
- $39,708
- Avg Net Price
- $27,817
- Median Debt
- $18,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 63%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $25,511
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $22,738
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,479
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,163
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Simpson University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Simpson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Simpson University earn a median of $54,340, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,256
- 8 Years
- $52,259
- 10 Years
- $54,340
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.35x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (53)
- 42%
- 100% (53)
- 42%
- 100% (53)
- 42%
- 100% (53)
- 42%
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 University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Simpson University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,817/year ($111,268 total). Graduates earn $54,340 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,157,848 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,046,580 (10.4× your investment). The median debt is $18,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $111,268
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,157,848
- Net Return
- $1,046,580
- ROI Multiple
- 10.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,817
- Median Debt
- $18,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
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 University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Simpson University 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 1.67%, well above the typical college. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.67%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 26.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,774
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,425,064
- Federal Grants
- $8,081,031
- Investment Income
- $-510,425
Top Programs
The fields Simpson University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 23% $99,999 early-career
- Business & Marketing 20% $67,032 early-career
- Psychology 20% $37,743 early-career
- Humanities 15%
- Communications 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Engineering 2%
- Education 1% $59,730 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Simpson University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Simpson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Redding, California, Simpson University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Simpson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Simpson University is $39,708, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,817. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,511 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,750 in federal student loans.
Is Simpson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Simpson University earn a median of $54,340, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Simpson University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Simpson University 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 1.67%, well above the typical college. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Simpson University? 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 University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Simpson University.
- Ottawa University-OttawaOttawa, KS · Close peer28% grad $55,552 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Rockford UniversityRockford, IL · Close peer43% grad $54,794 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Saint MaryLeavenworth, KS · Close peer46% grad $59,483 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Franklin Pierce UniversityRindge, NH · Close peer50% grad $53,353 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Chestnut Hill CollegePhiladelphia, PA · Close peer53% grad $52,015 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- McPherson CollegeMcPherson, KS · Close peer44% grad $52,084 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Simpson University? 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 University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note