1. Admissions & Aid
  2. Financial Aid & Affordability
  3. Types of Aid for Simpson Online and Graduate Studies

Types of Aid for Simpson Online and Graduate Studies

Everyone can apply for financial aid

All Simpson Online and Graduate Studies students should apply for financial aid. You apply and we’ll put in the work to get you the maximum benefit.

Simpson Online mom at the park with her kids

Less money and less time with life experience credits

Simpson awards credit for college-level learning acquired through life experiences, often outside of the classroom. This means you get your degree faster and save money!

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Continuing education alumni Ryan McIntosh working on his computer

Workforce Partnership Agreements

Simpson offers workforce partnership agreements designed to meet the needs of adult learners and working professionals. Employees of participating companies and organizations are eligible to receive a tuition discount of up to 20 percent for select Simpson Online and Graduate Studies degree programs.

Workforce Partnership Opportunities

Applying for Financial Aid

Online and graduate students wishing to be considered for financial assistance must do the following.

1. Apply to Simpson

Submit an application for admission, with supportive data, to the Simpson Online and Graduate Studies Admissions Office and be accepted as a student who is eligible to receive a degree or certificate.

Apply to Simpson

2. Fill out the FAFSA

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the processing center, requesting the results be sent to the Office of Financial Aid at Simpson College. You may complete the FAFSA online at fafsa.gov. Simpson’s federal school code is 001887.

You must file a FAFSA prior to July 1 in order to be eligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant and State of Iowa Teacher Education assistance. Simpson College should be listed on the form. In completing this form, you are automatically an applicant for the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Direct, as well as several internal scholarships, including the Andrea Biklen Memorial Scholarship.

More on Grants

3. Receive your financial aid offer

Once you have been accepted for admission and completed the necessary financial aid forms, you will be sent a financial aid offer.

If using employer reimbursement

If you’re receiving employer reimbursement you will need to provide the Business Office with written verification of employment, as well as the amount your employer will pay towards tuition.

If needed, reactivate your files

Online and graduate students who wish to receive financial aid and who have been inactive for at least one semester must notify the Office of Financial Aid by telephone in order for their files to be reactivated.

Scholarships for Simpson Online Students

Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national adult student honorary society, offers various scholarship amounts to adult, undergraduate students each academic year. To be eligible to apply, you must:

  • Completed 24 graded semester hours (or equivalent) in institutional coursework for a baccalaureate degree and 12 graded semester hours (or equivalent) for an associate degree by the completion of the fall semester or winter quarter at the institution. Not including transfer hours, assessment hours, CLEP credit, and the like, and not including any courses in which the student is currently enrolled.
  • Achieved a grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale on all work taken at this institution.
  • Enrolled in an associate’s or a baccalaureate degree program at this institution.
  • Has a financial need for assistance to complete their degree.

You do not need to be a member of the local Alpha Sigma Lambda chapter in order to apply. Applications must be submitted to Simpson College Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter Councilor.

See this year’s scholarship amount and application deadline.

The Des Moines Chapter of Executive Women International (EWI) offers the Adult Students in Scholastic Transition (ASIST) Scholarship Program in the central Iowa area. The ASIST Scholarship is a non-discriminatory, educational scholarship program for the benefit of nontraditional students pursuing an associate, bachelor or master’s degree, or a technical/professional certificate. To be eligible to apply, you must:

  • Specify the educational requirements needed to attain clearly defined goals and objectives
  • Demonstrate utilization of programs available through colleges/universities/technology centers, community agencies, service groups or career professionals
  • Legally reside within the EWI of Des Moines Chapter boundaries which include the following Iowa counties: Adair, Appanoose, Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Polk, Ringgold, Story, Union, Wapello, Warren, Wayne or Webster

Selection criteria give preference to those that demonstrate financial need; are socially, physically and/or economically disadvantaged adults; displaced homemakers; and/or heads of household with small children or dependent adults.

See this year’s scholarship amount and application deadline.