Simpson College vs Luther College
Simpson College and Luther College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Simpson College, located in Indianola, Iowa, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to Luther College's 68%. Simpson College's student body is more diverse, with 20% of students identifying as minorities, while Luther College's student body is predominantly White (88%). Both colleges offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Health Professions, but Luther College additionally offers majors in Music and Theatre Arts. While Simpson College has a slightly higher graduation rate (68%) than Luther College (66%), both institutions provide ample opportunities for academic success and personal growth. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
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![]() Luther College |
![]() Simpson College |
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Overview |
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Location | Decorah, Iowa | Indianola, Iowa |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 84.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | Methodism |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 76.1% | 90.8% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1088 - 1318 | 890 - 1280 |
ACT range | 22 - 29 | 20 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 8.0% | 2.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 37.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,495 | 1,330 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,898 | 1,208 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 444 | 286 |
Yield rate | 23.4% | 23.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $61,175 | $56,520 |
Average net price | $25,929 | $20,986 |
Tuition | $46,130 | $43,124 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,870
Meal plan:
$5,490
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Room/dormitory:
$4,680
Meal plan:
$4,974
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $34,281 |
100.0%
Average amount $34,582 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
69.0%
Average amount $5,292 |
73.0%
Average amount $5,158 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $13,652 |
16.0%
Average amount $10,172 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,744
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
1,172
Men 46.9% Women 53.1% |
Graduate students | N/A |
46
Men 39.1% Women 60.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 70.5% | 28.9% |
International students | 9.9% | 1.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 2,156 | 1,264 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois California | Iowa Arizona Texas Missouri Nebraska |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 72.5% | 68.9% |
Dropout rate | 27.4% | 30.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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