Head-to-head comparison
Luther College vs Simpson College: which has better ROI?
Option A Decorah, IA
Luther College
- Net price / year
- $23,097
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,850
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Option B Indianola, IA
Simpson College
- Net price / year
- $21,936
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,274
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Luther College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,388 in 8 years versus 8 years at Simpson College, on median earnings of $59,850 vs $59,274 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Luther College | Simpson College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,097 | $21,936 |
| Total net cost | $92,388 | $87,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,850 | $59,274 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $137,412 | $130,536 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Luther College or Simpson College?
Simpson College, at $21,936 a year after aid versus $23,097 — a gap of $1,161 a year, or $4,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Luther College or Simpson College graduates earn more?
Luther College graduates report a median $59,850 ten years after entry, $576 more than the $59,274 at Simpson College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Luther College or Simpson College?
Simpson College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Luther College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Luther College, against 63% at Simpson College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.