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Simpson College: Buildings and edge of quad, Simpson College
Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Simpson College

  • LocationIndianola, IA
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,163 students

Affiliation: United Methodist

Official website

Simpson College is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic life here hasn’t been researched yet. We research from official sources only, starting with the largest campuses, and we never guess. The nearest Catholic church mapped in OpenStreetMap is 2.2 miles away.

Know the official campus ministry or Mass schedule page? Send us the link.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Simpson College, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church: 2.2 mi1Simpson College (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church — 2.2 mi · 210 County Road R63, Indianola

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
78 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.63%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.81%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,440 · ACT 32
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.12 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$12,667

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
1,140
Total students1,163
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$21,936
Cost of attendance (per year)$61,227
Median federal debt at graduation$26,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
63%
First-year retention81%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$59,274
Admission rate86%
Students receiving Pell grants35%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1440
SAT reading & writing—
SAT math—
ACT composite31–33
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 53 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Des Moines

The Most Reverend William M. Joensen, Bishop of Des Moines

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: dmdiocese.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese estimated from the nearest Catholic schools using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Simpson College a Catholic college?
No. Simpson College is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is United Methodist. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.

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