ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
610 men/644 women
Part-time:
176 men/375 women

FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
1,067
Number accepted:
900
Number enrolled:
323
Average ACT score:
24
Freshmen retention rate:
82%

2006-2007 COSTS
Tuition:
$18,975
Room and board:
$7,290
Fees, books, misc.:
$820 approx.

FINANCIAL AID
Freshmen receiving aid:
97%

FACULTY
Full-time:
75
Part-time:
31
Ph.D.:
51
Student/faculty ratio:
14:1

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College Description
Founded in 1860, Simpson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church enrolling some 1,350 residential students and offering bachelor of arts and bachelor of music degrees. There are more than 40 majors and career programs available. ð The 63-acre tree-lined campus is located some 12 miles south of the metropolitan Des Moines area and is easily accessible by two major interstate highway systems (I-35 north/south and I-80 east/west). ð The college was named in honor of Bishop Matthew Simpson, a bishop of the church and personal adviser to Abraham Lincoln. For more than a century, the college has kept alive Simpson's philosophy of imbuing knowledge in a supportive, caring environment. The distinguished scientist George Washington Carver, who came to Simpson in 1890 after being denied enrollment elsewhere because of the color of his skin, said of Simpson "... the kind of people I met there made me believe I was a human being." ð Simpson is proud of its heritage but maintains a firm appreciation for the future, investing resources and energy in strategic thinking, technology, physical surroundings and the structure of its academic program.

Academic Life
Long considered an ideal academic setting for its blend of urban and rural experiences, Simpson offers its students a broad cross section of the arts and sciences and a comprehensive array of career-oriented programs as part of a 4-4-1 academic calendar. Simpson professors are dedicated to teaching. With a student-faculty ratio of 14:1, students get to know their professors personally, and these personal and academic relationships between students and their professors are often viewed as one of Simpson's strengths. ð Simpson students gain a firm grounding in the liberal arts, with particular emphasis placed on the ability of students to write and speak effectively. All first-year students are introduced to a program of classroom work, advising, orientation, group-building and mentoring designed to help new students adapt to their new academic surrounding. In addition, all students have the opportunity to broaden their horizons through the many global education classes and trips available. Major academic divisions at Simpson include Natural Sciences, Education and Social Sciences, Humanities, Policy Studies and Visual and Performing Arts. There are two four-month semesters and one three-week term of concentrated study in May. May Term course offerings provide students with an in-depth exploration of one subject, through experiences ranging from classroom work, internships, travel abroad or career observations. Internationally, Simpson maintains an active agenda with a long-standing program in Schorndorf, Germany, and a "Semester-in-London" program. Each May Term hundreds of Simpson students travel throughout the world. Central America, China, Japan, Russia, Europe, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and Israel are just some of the many trips available.

Campus Life
Campus activities figure prominently in the Simpson experience and are considered an integral part of each student's education at Simpson. Opportunities include NCAA Division III and intramural athletics, renowned music and theatre organizations, student government, activity boards, honor and professional societies, religious organizations, fraternities, sororities, student associations and student publications. In addition, the Campus Activities Board is responsible for booking a full range of entertainment on campus-everything from comedians to concerts. As a residential college, Simpson provides several types of living arrangements, including traditional residence halls, apartments, theme houses and fraternity and sorority houses. How Simpson students choose to spend their time is also influenced by the proximity of Des Moines, Iowa's capital city. There, cultural, educational and vocational opportunities abound, from dancing to baseball, art to internships.

Facilities and Resources
The residential campus is highly regarded as an idyll in a park-like setting amid maple trees and grassy fields. Simpson blends tradition with practicality, which is reflected in the architecture on campus. Many of the buildings have been renovated in keeping with their historic past, and new buildings maintain the traditional look of the campus while adding an energetic dimension. Of particular note, Simpson is bordered on the north by Indianola's most attractive park, Buxton Park, which is used frequently by students looking for a quiet respite to study or visit with friends. Some of the newer additions to campus are the $9-million state-of-the-art George Washington Carver Science Center, dedicated in October 1993, and the Carse Fitness Hall, dedicated in 1996, the latter featuring one of the finest weight and recreational facilities in the Midwest. Renovations since 1995 include enhancements to the Cowles-Hopper Athletic Center, the Brenton Student Center, the Wallace Hall of Science (social and applied sciences), and a $1-million addition to the Amy Robertson Music Center. For academic computing, Simpson has an Alpha 2100 computer and an Ethernet fiber optic campus-wide network.

Athletics/Sports
A member of the NCAA Division III, Simpson fields nine intercollegiate teams for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor/outdoor track and field, soccer, tennis and wrestling) and nine intercollegiate teams for women (basketball, cross country, golf, indoor/outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball). At Simpson, student-athletes have the opportunity to excel in their respective sports, as well as in the classroom. Simpson students have repeatedly proven this combination to be a successful one. Simpson has had five student-athletes receive NCAA post-graduate scholarships during the 1990's in addition to 115 Simpson athletes that have been named to the Iowa Conference all-academic teams since 1993. Nine top eight Division III team finishes (including the most recent, a national championship in softball) and 164 individual all-America honors speak clearly of Simpson's commitment to athletics within a liberal arts college setting. A strong intramural program is offered as well and provides year-round athletic events for all students.

Financial Aid
Simpson College seeks to make it financially possible for qualified students to experience the advantages of a Simpson education. Generous gifts from alumni, trustees and friends of the college, in addition to state and federal programs of student aid, make this opportunity possible. Simpson offers aid on both a need and no-need basis. Need is determined by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. All students applying for financial assistance need to complete the Simpson College Application for Financial Assistance. Simpson also has funds available through the federally sponsored Federal Work-Study Program. Financial assistance granted on a no-need basis includes academic scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of academic records, and talent scholarships, which are available in art, music or theatre. The talent scholarships are determined by audition/portfolio.

Admission Requirements
Admission to Simpson College is selective. The college seeks to enroll students with a proven record of academic achievement who want to become involved in their education. Simpson's rolling admission policy allows prospective students flexibility, however, early application is strongly recommended. Considered in the application process are: high school transcripts, official results of the ACT or SAT I, recommendations/high school report form and other recommendations or interviews as requested by the Office of Admissions. Candidates for admission should have completed a solid college-preparatory curriculum that includes four years of English; three years of mathematics (students planning on majoring in mathematics or science are urged to complete four years); three years of one foreign language; three years of social science; and three years of laboratory science. Simpson also admits a limited number of transfer students each year. In addition to the requirements listed above, transfer students need to submit evidence of good standing at the institution previously attended and properly certified credentials showing the amount of work completed and credit awarded. All prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus.

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