Simpson College vs Drake University
Simpson College and Drake University, both esteemed institutions in Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences. Simpson, a private liberal arts college, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on personalized attention, while Drake, a private research university, emphasizes hands-on learning and global engagement. With Simpson's acceptance rate hovering around 70% and Drake's at 75%, both institutions welcome a diverse student body. While Simpson's student population is predominantly White, Drake's is more racially and ethnically diverse. In terms of academics, Simpson excels in fields like biology, psychology, and business, while Drake offers a wider range of programs, including engineering, law, and pharmacy. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Simpson's at 65% and Drake's at 70%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two outstanding institutions.
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![]() Drake University |
![]() Simpson College |
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Overview |
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Location | Des Moines, Iowa | Indianola, Iowa |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 84.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 69.1% | 90.8% |
Application fees | $70 | |
SAT range | 1190 - 1410 | 890 - 1280 |
ACT range | 25 - 31 | 20 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 14.0% | 2.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 43.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,932 | 1,330 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,479 | 1,208 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 759 | 286 |
Yield rate | 13.9% | 23.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,125 | $56,520 |
Average net price | $29,507 | $20,986 |
Tuition | $45,734 | $43,124 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,160
Meal plan:
$5,128
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Room/dormitory:
$4,680
Meal plan:
$4,974
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $29,904 |
100.0%
Average amount $34,582 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
48.0%
Average amount $5,294 |
73.0%
Average amount $5,158 |
Students taking out private loans |
15.0%
Average amount $18,053 |
16.0%
Average amount $10,172 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,902
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
1,172
Men 46.9% Women 53.1% |
Graduate students |
1,973
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
46
Men 39.1% Women 60.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 68.0% | 28.9% |
International students | 2.9% | 1.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,758 | 1,264 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Iowa Minnesota Illinois Wisconsin Texas | Iowa Arizona Texas Missouri Nebraska |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 78.2% | 68.9% |
Dropout rate | 20.2% | 30.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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