Economics at Simpson College

Simpson's economics program lands squarely in the middle of Iowa's landscape for the degree, with similar programs across the state suggesting first-year earnings around $49,300. That puts graduates slightly below the national median of $51,700 but right at Iowa's typical outcome. The estimated $24,100 in debt—derived from comparable liberal arts colleges nationally—translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, meaning roughly half a year's salary to repay. That's manageable territory for a bachelor's degree.

The real uncertainty here is how Simpson specifically compares to its Iowa peers. Iowa State's economics graduates report earning $57,600 in their first year, about $8,000 more than the state median, while Grinnell—another private liberal arts college—comes in at $46,800. Simpson likely falls somewhere in this range, but without actual graduate data, it's impossible to know whether the program punches above or below its weight. The 89% admission rate and strong SAT scores suggest Simpson attracts capable students, but the program's outcomes relative to its selectivity remain unclear.

Given the modest estimated debt load and median-range earnings projection, this appears neither a standout value nor a significant financial risk—it's simply hard to distinguish from Iowa's average economics program based on available information. Families committed to Simpson for other reasons shouldn't be deterred by these estimates, but those comparison shopping should recognize they're operating with limited visibility into this specific program's track record.