Simpson College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Simpson College charges a net price of $21,936/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $87,744. Graduates earn a median $59,274 ten years after entry, $10,914/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8 years — a 20-year net return of $130,536, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Simpson College's 8-year payback ranks #691 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 46% of them, and #8 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,936/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $87,744 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $59,274 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $10,914/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $130,536 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Simpson College's own numbers. Net price $21,936 × 4 years = $87,744 total. Median earnings $59,274 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,914 a year of premium. $87,744 ÷ $10,914 = 8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $130,536. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Simpson College students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $59,274 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Simpson College students graduate?
63% finish their degree — 37% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $87,744 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $139,276 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Simpson College expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $21,936 net price runs $3,347 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $13,388 more across the full degree.