Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 86.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Simpson College scores 60 (Fair Value). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.650 (score 39) is poor.
Simpson College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,656/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,656/yr |
| Average net price | $21,936/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $87,744 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,274 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,227 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $47,656/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,936/year, or roughly $87,744 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,941/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,586/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,000) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,941 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,764 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,176 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,468 |
| $110,001+ | $26,586 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $17,941 per year at Simpson - $71,764 over four years. Against $40,000 average 6-year earnings and a 9.4-year payback, this is a tight case even at the lowest net price. Simpson's access story is real but the earnings outcomes lag behind what the investment demands.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $19,176 per year ($76,704 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $22,468 per year ($89,872 over four years). Against $40,000 average earnings, payback periods of 10-14 years at middle-income price levels are financially marginal. Middle-income families evaluating Simpson should model by program - CS and accounting students fare better; education and liberal arts students face a significantly stretched payback.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $26,586 per year - $106,344 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Simpson College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,958 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,279 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $46,237 | C |
| Teacher Education | $46,495 | C |
| Accounting | $76,272 | B |
| Psychology | $49,966 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $61,219 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,919 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $93,749 | - |
| International Relations | $63,790 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (5 graduates) earns $70,950 at year one and $91,318 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.352 and $25,000 median debt. Small graduate count limits statistical confidence. CS graduates from Simpson access the Des Moines metro's insurance and financial services tech sector - Principal Financial, Wells Fargo, and Nationwide Life are the primary employers. The 4-year trajectory to $91,318 is competitive for a regional liberal arts CS program. This is Simpson's best ROI case by earnings velocity.
Accounting
Accounting (18 graduates) earns $60,717 at year one and $76,272 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.445 and $27,000 median debt. Des Moines has a strong regional accounting and financial services market with significant Big Four presence. Simpson accounting graduates compete for entry-level audit and tax positions at Des Moines-area firms. The 4-year trajectory to $76,272 is consistent with associate-to-senior progression. This is Simpson's most reliable high-volume ROI program.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (30 graduates) earns $56,812 at year one and $69,958 at year four, with a C+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.475 and $26,975 median debt. The 4-year trajectory is reasonable for regional Iowa business roles. At $21,936 net price, the payback for a completer is functional, though the 63.3% completion rate means a meaningful share of enrolled students never reach this outcome. Business is Simpson's highest-volume program with a serviceable ROI.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (19 graduates) earns $42,760 at year one and $46,495 at year four, with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.631 and $27,000 median debt. The payback for teacher education graduates is slow.
Psychology
Psychology (14 graduates) reaches $49,966 at year four, with a C+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 and $27,000 median debt. No year-one data is available. Psychology at Simpson at net price levels above $20,000 per year produces marginal returns for bachelor's-level career entrants. Graduate school is often necessary to translate a psychology degree into professional-level earnings, adding to the total cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Simpson College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 86.2% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 31-33 |
| Enrollment | 1,227 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,723 |
Simpson's 86.2% admission rate and ACT 31-33 composite present an unusual combination: strong test scores at a broadly accessible institution. This suggests either a highly self-selected applicant pool, generous merit aid policy that attracts strong students, or both. Students who can negotiate significant merit aid from Simpson's sticker price may find a real value; those paying near full price are not getting the return the ACT range might imply.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Simpson's ROI is 60.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson College (this school) | 60 | $21,936 | $59,274 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Manhattanville University | 59 | $20,991 | $58,832 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Simpson admits 86.2% of applicants. The school does not report SAT ranges but ACT 31-33 composite is reported. Enrollment of 1,227 is small. Simpson serves the Des Moines metro area and draws from a regional Iowa student base. Computer science and accounting produce the strongest outcomes; education and liberal arts produce the weakest. Students targeting the Des Moines professional job market who can access Simpson's merit aid may find a functional case; students at or near sticker price face a challenged financial profile.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Simpson College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,936 a year after aid ($87,744 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $59,274 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Simpson College: Common Questions
Is Simpson College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Simpson College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,936 a year after aid ($87,744 over four years) against $59,274 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Simpson College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,936 a year, or roughly $87,744 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Simpson College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,274 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,474 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Simpson College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.4 years for Simpson College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Simpson College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $40,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Simpson College?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.