- Acceptance rate: 86% for fall 2024
- ACT, middle 50%: 31–33 composite
- Average net price: $23,637 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Simpson College reported: an acceptance rate of 86% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 31–33.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Simpson College reviews each application.
Simpson College GPA requirements
Simpson College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Simpson College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Simpson College acceptance rate
Simpson College admitted 1,764 of 2,046 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 86%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Simpson College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Indianola, Iowa, with 1,235 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Simpson College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| ACT English | 28 | 33 | 34 |
| ACT Math | 27 | 29 | 32 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1440 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Simpson College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
AP credit
Simpson College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $23,637 a year at Simpson College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into Simpson College?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Simpson College admitted 86% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What percent of applicants does Simpson College accept?
Simpson College's acceptance rate was 86% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,764 of 2,046 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA does Simpson College look for?
Simpson College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What are Simpson College's ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Simpson College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had ACT composite 31–33, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for Simpson College?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Simpson College admitted 86% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at Simpson College?
A lot: Simpson College requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It considers high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests, demonstration of competencies and work experience. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Simpson College require the SAT or ACT?
Check Simpson College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Simpson College was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 2% sent ACT scores.
How much does Simpson College cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $23,637 a year at Simpson College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Simpson College look at legacy status?
Yes. Simpson College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Simpson College accept AP credit?
Yes. Simpson College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Simpson College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Simpson CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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