Students at Tabor College benefit from earnings that exceed expectations for similar small private institutions, reflecting the college's ability to add value despite modest absolute outcomes.
The college combines accessible Christian education with responsible debt management, as evidenced by its 0% default rate and faster-than-average loan repayment patterns.
Tabor College is a small private Christian institution in Hillsboro, Kansas, serving about 600 students in a tight-knit campus community. While the college doesn't rank among the top performers nationally for earnings outcomes, it serves an important role as a "Mobility Engine" - providing meaningful access to higher education for students from diverse economic backgrounds, including 38% who receive Pell Grants and 31% who are first-generation college students.
The college's graduates earn a median of $54,058 ten years after enrollment, which places it in the lower tier nationally but still represents meaningful economic progress for many students. What's notable is that Tabor achieves earnings beyond expectations of about $3,054 compared with similar institutions, suggesting the college adds value despite its modest absolute earnings levels.
As a small Christian liberal arts college, Tabor emphasizes personal development, faith integration, and close faculty-student relationships over purely economic outcomes. The institution's 47% eight-year graduation rate reflects the challenges many small private colleges face, but for students who complete their degrees, the college provides a foundation for stable middle-class careers in fields like education, ministry, healthcare, and business.
Tabor College's program portfolio reflects its Christian liberal arts mission and rural Kansas context. Exercise Science and Kinesiology stands out as the college's strongest program by aggregate return, graduating 27 students annually who earn about $22,771 in early career. While these starting salaries are modest, the field offers pathways to higher earnings through additional certifications, graduate study in physical therapy or athletic training, and specialized roles in fitness management or sports medicine.
The college's program mix emphasizes fields that align with its Christian mission and serve regional workforce needs. Education, ministry, business, and health-related programs form the core of Tabor's offerings, preparing students for careers that prioritize service and community impact alongside financial stability. These programs may not generate the highest starting salaries, but they provide meaningful career paths that create lasting value for graduates and their communities.
As a small institution, Tabor focuses on depth rather than breadth in its program offerings. The college's strength lies in providing personalized attention and faith integration across its programs, helping students develop both professional competencies and personal values that serve them throughout their careers. This approach may not maximize immediate earnings but creates a foundation for lifelong learning and community leadership.
Graduates of Tabor College see modest but meaningful long-term financial outcomes. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $54,058, which places the institution in the lower tier nationally for earnings. However, the college does achieve earnings beyond expectations of about $3,054 compared with similar institutions, indicating that graduates perform somewhat better than might be predicted based on the college's profile and student body characteristics.
The college's strongest program by aggregate return is Exercise Science and Kinesiology, which graduates about 27 students annually. While early-career earnings in this field average around $22,771, graduates often pursue additional certifications or graduate degrees that can lead to higher earnings in physical therapy, athletic training, or fitness management roles. The program's popularity reflects Tabor's emphasis on health and wellness fields that align with its Christian mission.
For a small Christian college, Tabor's earnings outcomes are reasonable given its focus on fields like education, ministry, and human services that typically offer lower starting salaries but provide meaningful career satisfaction. The college's value proposition centers more on personal development, faith integration, and preparation for service-oriented careers rather than maximizing immediate financial returns.
Affordability at Tabor College presents a mixed picture typical of small private institutions. Low-income students pay about $18,085 annually after aid, while middle-income families see costs around $22,280 per year. High-income families pay approximately $21,354, reflecting the college's efforts to provide need-based aid to students from lower-income backgrounds while maintaining revenue from families with greater ability to pay.
Debt levels are moderate but significant for a institution with modest earnings outcomes. Typical graduates leave with about $23,887 in federal student loan debt, and families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $17,536. The combination means total family borrowing can reach over $40,000, which requires careful consideration given the college's median graduate earnings of $54,058.
What helps make the debt manageable is Tabor's strong loan repayment performance. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, and borrowers pay down their balances faster than national averages - by year four, graduates have paid off about 15% of their original balance compared with typical institutions. This suggests that while earnings may be modest, graduates generally find stable employment that allows them to service their educational debt responsibly.
Tabor College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
