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Simpson University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Redding, CA · 809 students

The verdict

Simpson University charges a net price of $27,817/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $111,268. Graduates earn a median $54,340 ten years after entry, $5,980/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 18.6 years — a 20-year net return of $8,332, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Simpson University's 18.6-year payback ranks #1,040 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 19% of them, and #110 of 334 in California.

Better ROI than 19% of US colleges#1,040 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$27,817
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$54,340
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
18.6 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
86%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Simpson University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$27,817/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$111,268our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$54,340Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$5,980/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$18,750Scorecard, 2026
Payback18.6 yrsour math
20-year net return$8,332our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Simpson University's own numbers. Net price $27,817 × 4 years = $111,268 total. Median earnings $54,340 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,980 a year of premium. $111,268 ÷ $5,980 = 18.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $8,332. 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 University students graduate with?

A median $18,750 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $54,340 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Simpson University students graduate?

49% finish their degree — 51% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $111,268 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $227,078 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Simpson University expensive compared with other California colleges?

Its $27,817 net price runs $7,912 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $31,648 more across the full degree.

Simpson University: frequently asked questions

Is Simpson University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Simpson University charges $27,817/yr after aid ($111,268 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $54,340 ten years out — $5,980/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 18.6 years and returns $8,332 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Simpson University degree take to pay off?
About 18.6 years. We divide the $111,268 four-year net cost by the $5,980/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Simpson University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $27,817/yr — about $111,268 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Simpson University compare to other California colleges?
It ranks #110 of 334 California colleges we track by payback. Its $54,340 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $27,817 net price is above the national median of $16,902.