Overview
Enrollment
Best Colleges Rank
| Location | Indianola, Iowa |
| Online | simpson.edu |
| School Type | Private 4 Year |
| Setting | Distant Town |
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist |
| Size | Small |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, sits 12 miles south of Des Moines in a residential community. Founded in 1860 as a Methodist-affiliated liberal arts institution, the 85-acre campus features a mix of historic and modern buildings centered around a traditional collegiate quadrangle. The college maintains a selective admission process and offers undergraduate programs across liberal arts disciplines, with notable strengths in business, education, and natural sciences, while its music program is particularly recognized for opera performance. Students are required to live on campus for three years, with housing options including traditional residence halls and theme houses, and the Simpson Storm athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III as members of the American Rivers Conference.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Simpson College is rated within the top 41% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Simpson College within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#407 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#291 in Best Private Colleges in the U.S.
#8 in Best Colleges in Iowa
#6 in Best Private Colleges in Iowa
#170 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#5 in Best Value Colleges in Iowa
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 890/1280 |
| ACT | 20/27 |
| GPA | 3.62 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | Aug 15, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $0 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,134 |
| Other Fees | $906 |
| Room and Board | $10,088 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,130 |
| Total One Year Cost | $61,564 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Business | 22% |
| Education | 11% |
| Social Sciences | 8% |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 7% |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting | 6% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Simpson College are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=154350 IPEDS survey data for Simpson College.
Current students may use the Simpson College GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025