Simpson College Acceptance Rate
Indianola, Iowa · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 1,646
- Admitted
- 1,463
- Yield
- 23.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Simpson College's acceptance rate has risen from 85.5% in 2014–15 to 88.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 1,313 to 1,646 (+25%) over that period.
Its 88.9% rate makes Simpson College more selective than about 23% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 26 tracked Iowa schools, it is more selective than about 23%.
Simpson College has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 23.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 1,313 | 1,122 | 85.5% | 346 |
| 2015–16 | 1,271 | 1,137 | 89.5% | 322 |
| 2016–17 | 1,265 | 1,081 | 85.5% | 348 |
| 2017–18 | 1,245 | 1,044 | 83.9% | 298 |
| 2018–19 | 1,401 | 1,180 | 84.2% | 360 |
| 2019–20 | 1,607 | 1,293 | 80.5% | 292 |
| 2020–21 | 1,300 | 1,126 | 86.6% | 295 |
| 2021–22 | 1,330 | 1,208 | 90.8% | 286 |
| 2022–23 | 1,569 | 1,398 | 89.1% | 302 |
| 2023–24 | 1,646 | 1,463 | 88.9% | 342 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 932 | 837 | 89.8% |
| Men | 696 | 610 | 87.6% |
| Another gender | 18 | 16 | 88.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 31–33 | 2% |
How Simpson College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Simpson College's acceptance rate?
Simpson College's acceptance rate is 88.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,463 admitted of 1,646 applicants).
Is Simpson College test optional?
Simpson College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Simpson College?
Simpson College received 1,646 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,463.
Is Simpson College getting harder to get into?
Simpson College has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 85.5% in 2014–15 to 88.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: simpson.edu/.