Accessible2025-2026 admissions cycle

Simpson University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Simpson University is a private college in California that admits most qualified applicants (around 86%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Simpson University weighs, where it ranks among California schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1060, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
86%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1060
of admitted students
Type
Private
California
Selectivity in state
#41
of 61 in CA
Get your real chances at Simpson University
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
Open the calculator

Will I get into Simpson University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Simpson University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Simpson University?

At Simpson University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 86% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Simpson University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Simpson University hard to get into?

Simpson University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 86% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Simpson University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Simpson University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Simpson University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Simpson University?

Simpson University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1060. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Simpson University.

Calculate your chances at Simpson University

What Simpson University looks for

What Simpson University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Simpson University signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and character / personal qualities above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Simpson University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Simpson University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Simpson University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100Above the admitted 75th percentile
Colleges for a 1050 SAT →Colleges for a 20 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Simpson University compares in California

Simpson University ranks #41 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.

Among the 61 California schools we track, Simpson University ranks #41 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like California Institute of Technology (3%) and Stanford University (4%) sit nearby, which makes California a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

California Institute of Technology
3%acceptance · CA
Stanford University
4%acceptance · CA
Pomona College
7%acceptance · CA
UCLA
9%acceptance · CA
University of Southern California
10%acceptance · CA
Claremont McKenna College
10%acceptance · CA
University of California, Berkeley
11%acceptance · CA
UC San Diego
27%acceptance · CA
See all California schools →

Similar to Simpson University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Simpson University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Bellarmine University, Long Island University, and Xavier University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Bellarmine University
86%acceptance · KY
Long Island University
86%acceptance · NY
Xavier University
86%acceptance · OH
Hawaii Pacific University
86%acceptance · HI
Mercy University
86%acceptance · NY
Regis University
86%acceptance · CO

Frequently asked questions

What does Simpson University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Simpson University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and character / personal qualities most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Simpson University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Simpson University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Simpson University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Simpson University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Simpson University?

Simpson University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.