Cedar Crest College vs Simpson University

Cedar Crest College and Simpson University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Simpson University is more selective with a 99.0% acceptance rate compared to Cedar Crest College's 99.1%.

Cost: Cedar Crest College offers a lower average net price at $22,909, which is $5,014 less than Simpson University ($27,923). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Cedar Crest College earn a median salary of $59,460 ten years after enrollment, which is $5,120 more than Simpson University graduates ($54,340).

Graduation: Cedar Crest College leads with a 60.2% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 76.7% vs 62.4%.

Campus Size: Cedar Crest College is the larger campus with 857 total students, while Simpson University has 751.

Bottom Line: Cedar Crest College stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.