Computer Science at Simpson College

Simpson College's computer science program hits the national median for earnings at $70,950, but sits $8,000 behind Iowa State and nearly $14,000 below Grinnell. In Iowa's market, that 60th percentile placement suggests decent but not exceptional outcomes—you're paying private school tuition (with the corresponding debt) for mid-pack results. The $25,000 debt load is reasonable, translating to roughly $280 monthly payments, which someone earning $71,000 can manage comfortably. The 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio falls well within the safe zone.

The real caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. A couple of graduates landing exceptional or disappointing jobs can swing the median dramatically. That said, computer science degrees generally provide a solid foundation regardless of where you earn them, and Simpson's 89% admission rate means accessibility isn't a barrier.

For Iowa families, this comes down to cost calculations. If Simpson's net price after aid is competitive with Iowa State (where outcomes run 11% higher), it's defensible. But paying a significant premium over a public university for middle-of-the-pack results requires justification beyond the numbers—perhaps smaller class sizes or specific faculty relationships matter to your student. The fundamentals work, but this isn't a program where the earnings data makes the financial case by itself.