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Orange City, IA · Indianola, IA
| Northwestern College | Simpson College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $25,907/yr | $21,936/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $27,059/yr | $17,941/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,249 | $26,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $19,503/yr | $15,764/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $20,572/yr | $19,176/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $24,265/yr | $22,468/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $29,539/yr | $26,586/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $246/mo | $276/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,900/yr | $10,500/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,900/yr | $9,548/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,150/yr | $1,168/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,240/yr | $4,202/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $49,783/yr | $61,227/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $36,710/yr | $47,656/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $36,710/yr | $47,656/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 25% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 56% | 71% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 80% | 86% |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1440 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 31–33 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 28–34 · Math 27–32 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,155 | 1,646 |
| Students accepted | 1,005 | 1,463 |
| Students who enrolled | 283 | 342 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 28% | 23% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 0% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 2% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 66% | 63% |
| Freshmen who come back | 74% | 81% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $49,802/yr | $59,274/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $35,860–$69,611 | $42,841–$81,432 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 65% | 67% |
| White students graduating | 69% | 64% |
| Black students graduating | 33% | 57% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 45% | 59% |
| Asian students graduating | 100% | 50% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $46,731/yr | $49,946/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 70% | 84% |
| Graduate on time | 55% | 51% |
| Pell students who graduate | 60% | 56% |
| First-gen students who finish | 49% | 72% |
| Low-income students who finish | 40% | No data reported |
| Students who transfer out | 13% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,613/yr | $50,552/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Education 23% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Health Professions 11% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Education — 23% of degrees | Health Professions — 11% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 10% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 9% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $71,479/yr | Computer Science — $70,950/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 17% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,175 | 1,227 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 521 | 16 |
| Average professor pay | $7,580/mo | $6,723/mo |
| Full-time professors | 99% | 52% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $81,300 | $72,990 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Town (fringe) |
| Location | Orange City, IA | Indianola, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1882 | 1860 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.3% | 2.7% |
| Men | 48% | 50% |
| Women | 52% | 50% |
| White students | 81% | 72% |
| Black students | 1.6% | 4.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.8% | 13% |
| Asian students | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| Two or more races | 1.7% | 4.2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.8% | 1.6% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 23% |
| Part-time students | 10% | 2.1% |
| Students age 25+ | 9% | 5.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,295/yr | $12,667/yr |
| Endowment | $76.9M | $87.2M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 998 | 1,282 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $4,866/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $5,222/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 18 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Reformed Church in America | United Methodist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | Yes | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division II | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 17 | 23 |
| Student athletes | 618 | 683 |
| Athletic scholarships | $4.0M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $8.8M | $4.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $8.9M | $4.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $27,567 | $76,750 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.