Simpson College vs Northwestern College

Simpson College and Northwestern College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Simpson College, nestled in Indianola, Iowa, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body. Its strengths lie in the liberal arts, education, and nursing programs. Northwestern College, located in Orange City, Iowa, is known for its strong science and engineering programs, attracting students seeking careers in these fields. With a lower acceptance rate, Northwestern College fosters a close-knit community. While both colleges offer excellent opportunities for personal and academic growth, their unique characteristics cater to different aspirations. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which college aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Northwestern College logo

Northwestern College

Simpson College logo

Simpson College

Overview

Location Orange City, Iowa Indianola, Iowa
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 70.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Protestant Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.0% 90.8%
Application fees
SAT range 940 - 1240 890 - 1280
ACT range 20 - 27 20 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 8.0% 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 82.0% 35.0%
Total number of applicants 1,172 1,330
Total number of admissions given out 973 1,208
Admitted students who chose to enroll 268 286
Yield rate 27.5% 23.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $47,650 $56,520
Average net price $24,848 $20,986
Tuition $33,350 $43,124
Room & board $10,000
Room/dormitory: $4,680

Meal plan: $4,974
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $21,873
100.0%
Average amount $34,582
Students receiving federal student loan 69.0%
Average amount $5,257
73.0%
Average amount $5,158
Students taking out private loans 21.0%
Average amount $10,813
16.0%
Average amount $10,172

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,053
Men 48.7% Women 51.3%
1,172
Men 46.9% Women 53.1%
Graduate students 460
Men 24.3% Women 75.7%
46
Men 39.1% Women 60.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 28.9%
International students 2.2% 1.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 995 1,264
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Iowa Arizona Texas Missouri Nebraska

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.8% 68.9%
Dropout rate 6.5% 30.8%
Transferred out 22.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,719
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,017
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,993
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,925
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,080
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,227
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,185
  • Year 2: $41,193
  • Year 3: N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,021
  • Year 2: $73,041
  • Year 3: $81,168
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,180
  • Year 2: $54,509
  • Year 3: $62,305
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,866
  • Year 2: $49,787
  • Year 3: $53,487
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,401
  • Year 2: $42,012
  • Year 3: $46,368
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,370
  • Year 2: $36,668
  • Year 3: $44,730
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,991
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $42,375
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,249
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $41,996
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,017
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $41,102
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,449
  • Year 2: $32,029
  • Year 3: $38,526
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $35,030

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