Students at Simpson College achieve earnings in the top 20% nationally, reflecting the college's success in combining liberal arts education with practical career preparation.
Graduates consistently manage their educational investment successfully, with exceptional loan repayment rates that demonstrate the financial value of a Simpson education.
Simpson College ranks as a solid choice among private nonprofit institutions, delivering above-average long-term earnings outcomes in a supportive small-college environment. Located in Indianola, Iowa, this private liberal arts college serves about 33% Pell Grant recipients and 23% first-generation students, demonstrating meaningful access while maintaining strong academic standards. Graduates earn a median of $59,274 ten years after enrollment, placing Simpson in the top 20% nationally for earnings outcomes among similar institutions.
What distinguishes Simpson is its ability to combine the personal attention of a small liberal arts college with practical career preparation that translates into solid financial results. The college's focused program portfolio emphasizes business, exercise science, and accounting—fields that provide clear pathways to stable, well-paying careers. With a 66% six-year graduation rate and strong loan repayment performance, Simpson demonstrates consistent success in helping students complete their degrees and transition effectively into the workforce.
For families considering private college options in the Midwest, Simpson offers a compelling balance of academic quality, personal attention, and financial outcomes that justify the investment. The college's designation as a "Mobility Engine" reflects its success in serving students from diverse economic backgrounds while delivering earnings that support long-term financial stability.
Simpson College's program portfolio reflects a strategic focus on career-oriented fields that combine student interest with strong employment prospects. Business Administration leads the way with 48 graduates earning around $49,787, representing the college's largest and most successful program in terms of both enrollment and aggregate economic impact. This program's success reflects Simpson's emphasis on practical business skills and professional development that prepare students for management and entrepreneurship roles.
Accounting emerges as Simpson's highest-earning program, with 22 graduates achieving median earnings of approximately $54,509 early in their careers. This strong performance reflects the consistent demand for accounting professionals and Simpson's reputation for thorough preparation in financial management and analysis. Exercise Science and Kinesiology, with 25 graduates earning about $42,012, represents the college's strength in health and wellness fields, capitalizing on growing demand for fitness professionals, physical therapists, and health promotion specialists.
These three programs demonstrate Simpson's focused approach to career preparation, emphasizing fields where the college has developed strong faculty expertise, industry connections, and practical learning opportunities. The relatively small program sizes allow for personalized attention and mentorship that helps students develop both technical skills and professional networks. This concentrated approach, rather than trying to excel in every field, allows Simpson to deliver consistently strong outcomes in its areas of strength while maintaining the close faculty-student relationships that define the liberal arts college experience.
Simpson College graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes that place the institution in the top 20% nationally for earnings performance. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $59,274, with many seeing steady earnings growth from the $49,946 they typically earn six years out. This upward trajectory reflects the college's focus on practical, career-oriented programs that prepare students for in-demand fields with solid earning potential.
The college's strongest financial returns come from its business and accounting programs, which form the core of Simpson's career-focused curriculum. Business Administration graduates, representing the largest program with 48 students, earn around $49,787 early in their careers, while Accounting majors achieve some of the highest earnings at approximately $54,509. Exercise Science and Kinesiology, another popular program with 25 graduates, leads to earnings of about $42,012, reflecting the growing demand for health and fitness professionals. These programs demonstrate Simpson's strategic focus on fields that combine student interest with strong employment prospects.
The college's small size creates advantages for career preparation and professional networking. With focused programs and close faculty relationships, students receive individualized attention that helps them develop the skills and connections needed for career success. This personalized approach, combined with Simpson's emphasis on practical learning experiences, helps explain why graduates consistently achieve earnings that support their investment in a private college education.
Simpson College's affordability profile reflects typical private college pricing with meaningful financial aid that makes attendance accessible for many families. Low-income students pay an average net price of $15,172 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $19,007 per year. Even high-income families pay about $26,854 annually, which represents substantial aid from the college's published sticker price. These net prices place Simpson in the middle range nationally for private colleges, offering reasonable value for the personalized education and outcomes the college provides.
The college's financial aid approach helps make private education accessible while maintaining sustainable debt levels for most students. Typical graduates leave with about $26,000 in federal student loan debt, a manageable amount given Simpson's strong earnings outcomes. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $20,007, reflecting moderate family contributions that many middle-class families can handle. The college's 0% federal loan default rate demonstrates that graduates consistently manage their debt obligations successfully, indicating that the investment in a Simpson education typically pays off financially.
What makes Simpson particularly sustainable is the relationship between what families pay and what graduates earn. With median earnings approaching $60,000 ten years out, most borrowers can comfortably handle standard loan repayment while building their careers. The college's strong loan repayment rates—with 88% of borrowers successfully repaying their loans—further confirm that Simpson graduates generally achieve the financial stability needed to manage their educational investment responsibly.
Simpson College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
