Management Information Systems and Services at Simpson College

Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $59,490 for MIS graduates, which would put Simpson's estimated outcome slightly above Iowa's median for this field. With an estimated debt load of $26,581—moderately higher than both the state and national medians—graduates would face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, meaning roughly half a year's salary in loans. That's manageable territory for a technical degree, though not outstanding.

The bigger concern is the uncertainty itself. When graduate sample sizes are too small to publish, it's often because the program is either new or produces few graduates annually. For a field like MIS where networking, internship pipelines, and employer relationships matter considerably, a small cohort could mean fewer established connections to Iowa's tech employers. Simpson's 89% admission rate and strong SAT average suggest solid academic preparation, but the school's liberal arts focus may not provide the same industry ties as universities with larger technology programs.

If your student is confident about pursuing MIS and values Simpson's small-college environment, these estimated numbers suggest the degree could pay for itself within reasonable timeframes. But given the lack of actual outcomes data, you'd want clear answers about placement rates, internship partners, and where recent graduates actually landed jobs before committing—especially since University of Northern Iowa offers a comparable program with documented results near $58,000.