Hillsboro, KSprivate nonprofittabor.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 46%–65% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Tabor College is a small, Christ-centered liberal arts college in rural Kansas that punches above its weight in student retention and affordability, though its graduation rates lag behind national averages. With a tight-knit community enforcing conservative lifestyle covenants and a curriculum blending faith with practical majors like business and exercise science, it attracts students seeking a values-driven education at a bargain price.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Tabor College is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 56-65% depending on the source. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 18-23 on the ACT or 960-1140 on the SAT. Admissions officials weigh GPA heavily, though the average admitted GPA isn't disclosed. Notably, only about 28% of accepted students ultimately enroll, suggesting many use Tabor as a safety school.
With a 15:1 student-faculty ratio and 69% of classes under 20 students, Tabor emphasizes close mentorship. Its most popular majors reflect practical career paths: psychology, business administration, and kinesiology. The business department offers seven concentrations including sports management and entrepreneurship, while health sciences shine through exercise science programs. However, the 47% graduation rate (33% per some sources) signals academic challenges—though spring 2025 saw a strong 93% retention rate across all classes.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Life at Tabor revolves around strict Christian community norms: no drugs, alcohol, gambling, or premarital sex, with most students reportedly adhering. The 539 undergraduates (59% male) choose from 30+ clubs, with athletics, music, and ministry dominating campus culture. Residence life fosters intentional bonding—Instagram shows students gathering for worship, intramurals, and service projects. The rural Kansas location means limited off-campus distractions, reinforcing the insular, faith-focused vibe.
Graduates earn modest salaries—$36,427 median at one year post-graduation, rising to $42,000 after a decade. The abysmal 33% graduation rate (47% per some reports) places Tabor in the bottom 15% nationally, though retention rates tell a brighter story: 93% of students returned in spring 2025, with all classes retaining over 90%. This suggests many who persist through the first year eventually graduate, but a significant cohort drops out early.
Tabor's affordability is its trump card. After aid, the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $16,181—$2,292 below typical private college aid packages. Every student receives financial assistance, with average grants totaling $11,507. The school aggressively combines institutional scholarships, state grants, and federal loans to offset its $29,788 sticker price, making it a budget option for faith-minded families.
Tabor carves a niche by doubling down on its conservative Christian identity—enforced through lifestyle covenants—while delivering surprising value. Its 93% retention rate suggests students who buy into the tight-knit community tend to stay, even as overall graduation rates remain dismal. For evangelical families seeking an affordable, no-frills education steeped in faith, Tabor offers a rare combination of small-town Kansas prices and intense spiritual camaraderie. Just don't expect robust career outcomes or academic prestige.