Simpson College vs. Bethel University (BU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Simpson College or Bethel University (BU)?“
Simpson College
Bethel University (BU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Simpson College and Bethel University (BU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Simpson College and Bethel University (BU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Simpson College and Bethel University (BU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Simpson College | Bethel University (BU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $34,175 | $34,140 |
| Net Price | $22,120 | $26,602 |
| Average Financial Aid | $21,803 | $16,811 |
| Total Undergraduates | 1592 | 2875 |
| Average SAT Scores | 975 - 1205 | 995 - 1350 |
| Acceptance Rate | 89 | 95 |
| Location | 701 North C St | 3900 Bethel Dr |
| City Name | Indianola | Saint Paul |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Simpson College is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Indianola and Saint Paul. Simpson College is in a West North Central and Bethel University (BU) is in a West North Central - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Simpson College or Bethel University (BU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Simpson College is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Simpson College is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Bethel University (BU) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Simpson College Dorms Compare to housing Options at Bethel University (BU)?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Simpson College charges for on-campus living, while Bethel University (BU) charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Simpson College and Bethel University (BU) student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Simpson College, % | Bethel University (BU),% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 88.19 | 77.74 |
| Hispanic | 2.76 | 4.21 |
| Black | 1.95 | 4.590000000000001 |
| Foreign | 0.5 | 0.44999999999999996 |
| Others | 6.6 | 13 |
How different is the Simpson College campus compared to Bethel University (BU) campus?
The Simpson College campus is located in Indianola, IA and is characterized as Town: Fringe (in urban cluster up to 10 miles from an urbanized area). The Bethel University (BU) campus is located in Saint Paul, MN and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Simpson College provides $21,803 whereas Bethel University (BU) provides an average of $16,811.
How does Simpson College academics compare to Bethel University (BU)?
When analyzing academics between Simpson College and Bethel University (BU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Simpson College | Bethel University (BU) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 6 | 6 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | N/A |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 18 | 42 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 19 | 9 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 1 | 2 |
| Education | 49 | 74 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Simpson College or Bethel University (BU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Simpson College and Bethel University (BU). But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Simpson College social life compare to Bethel University (BU)?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Simpson College social life differs from Bethel University (BU).
Check here.
Check here.