Simpson College

What is the history of Simpson College?

Simpson College is a private college founded in 1860 in Indianola, Iowa, by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It began as the Indianola Male and Female Seminary, reflecting an early commitment to educating women as well as men. The college later took the name of Methodist bishop Matthew Simpson.

Its history helps explain two features of the institution today: a continuing connection to the United Methodist tradition and a broad undergraduate curriculum rather than a focus on a single profession. Simpson has since added graduate and adult-learning options, but its Indianola campus remains the center of its residential undergraduate experience.

What are the faculties and departments at Simpson College?

Simpson College offers undergraduate programs across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, and performing arts, along with selected graduate and adult-learning programs. Applicants should look for a specific major and credential rather than assume the college is organized into separate professional schools.

Examples of undergraduate fields include biology, computer science, mathematics, psychology, accounting, business, criminal justice, education, music, and theater. Students considering teaching should examine the requirements for the particular Iowa licensure area they want; completing a major and qualifying for a professional license are not necessarily the same process.

For students who are undecided, the breadth of programs offers room to explore. Those with a specialized goal should compare the current academic catalog's course sequence, prerequisites, experiential requirements, and frequency of upper-level offerings before committing to a major.

What is the location of Simpson College?

Simpson College's main campus is in Indianola, Iowa, a small city south of Des Moines. This setting combines a largely residential college campus with access to internships, employers, and cultural activities in the Des Moines area.

Students should plan transportation around their own schedules: a regional opportunity may still require a car or another arranged ride. First-year students are permitted to have cars on campus. Des Moines International Airport is the nearest major airport, which may matter to students traveling from outside Iowa.

What is the mission and vision of Simpson College?

Simpson College describes its educational mission in terms of the liberal arts, personal development, service, and preparation for work and civic life. Its United Methodist affiliation is part of its institutional identity, though students should distinguish that affiliation from any particular course, worship, or participation requirement.

The college's stated approach emphasizes learning across disciplines alongside a chosen field of study. Prospective students can assess how that philosophy appears in the current general education requirements, major curriculum, and opportunities for community engagement rather than treating a mission statement as evidence of an individual student's outcome.