Students at Simpson University benefit from earnings that significantly exceed expectations, with graduates earning nearly $9,000 more than similar students at comparable institutions nationwide.
This earnings advantage reflects the university's ability to add meaningful value despite its small size and specialized focus.
Simpson University is a small private Christian university in Redding, California, serving about 1,000 students with a focus on personalized education and faith-based learning. The university demonstrates strong access, with 42% of students receiving Pell Grants and 38% being first-generation college students, reflecting its commitment to serving diverse backgrounds. However, Simpson falls into the "Under-Resourced Institutions" mobility category, indicating challenges in translating that access into consistently strong economic outcomes for all students.
The university's greatest strength lies in its nursing program, which produces graduates earning $84,161 ten years after graduation—well above the institutional median of $54,340. This creates a bifurcated outcome pattern where students in high-demand healthcare fields see excellent returns, while those in other majors face more modest earnings prospects. Psychology, the largest program with 59 graduates, leads to median earnings of $31,765, illustrating this variation.
For families who value the small college experience and have students interested in nursing or similar healthcare fields, Simpson can deliver strong returns. The university's 67th percentile ranking for overall earnings reflects this program-dependent success, though affordability remains a consideration given net prices that range from $22,880 for low-income students to over $30,000 for higher-income families.
Simpson University's program portfolio reflects its mission as a small Christian university with particular strength in healthcare fields. Adult Health Nursing stands out as both the highest-earning program and the strongest aggregate return generator, with 35 graduates earning a median of $84,161 ten years after graduation. This program alone drives much of the university's strong earnings performance and represents the clearest path to high financial returns at Simpson.
Psychology represents the university's largest program with 59 graduates, but leads to more modest earnings of $31,765, reflecting the field's typical career trajectory that often requires graduate education for higher-paying positions. Business Administration, with 45 graduates earning $36,042, falls in the middle range and represents a solid if not spectacular return on investment.
The concentration of strong outcomes in nursing creates both an opportunity and a challenge for Simpson. Students who enter healthcare fields benefit from excellent career preparation and strong employer demand, while those in other disciplines face more typical small-college earnings patterns. As a focused institution graduating relatively small cohorts, Simpson provides intensive preparation in its core areas but may have limited network reach compared to larger universities.
Simpson University graduates earn a median of $54,340 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 68th percentile nationally for long-term earnings. What makes Simpson particularly interesting is its strong "earnings beyond expectations" performance—graduates earn about $8,849 more than similar students at comparable institutions, suggesting the university adds meaningful value despite its small size and regional focus.
The university's return story is heavily driven by its nursing program, which represents the highest aggregate return among all majors. Adult Health Nursing graduates earn a median of $84,161 ten years out, nearly double the institutional average and reflecting the strong demand for healthcare professionals in Northern California. In contrast, Psychology majors—the largest program with 59 graduates—earn $31,765, while Business Administration graduates earn $36,042. This wide variation means career choice significantly impacts financial outcomes at Simpson.
The concentrated success in nursing creates a unique value proposition: students who enter healthcare fields see excellent returns on their investment, while those in other disciplines face more modest but still competitive earnings. With 169 graduates earning over $75,000 annually, Simpson demonstrates that a small Christian university can produce strong economic outcomes when students align with high-demand career paths.
Affordability at Simpson University presents a mixed picture, with net prices that are manageable for some families but challenging for others. Low-income students pay about $22,880 annually after aid, while middle-income families face costs around $25,439, and higher-income students pay approximately $30,193. These prices place Simpson in the 13th percentile nationally for affordability, meaning it costs more than most comparable institutions.
Despite the higher sticker price, debt levels remain relatively reasonable for a private institution. Typical graduates leave with $18,750 in federal student loan debt, and families who use Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $17,871. The university maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully, though this likely reflects both the strong outcomes in nursing and the university's small, closely-monitored student body.
The key affordability consideration is whether the higher upfront costs align with post-graduation earning potential. For nursing students, the investment clearly pays off given their $84,000+ median earnings. For students in other fields earning closer to the institutional median of $54,340, families need to weigh the value of Simpson's small-college experience and Christian mission against the financial commitment required.
Simpson University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
