SC vs. Tabor

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with Tabor College in Hillsboro, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sterling College is larger than Tabor based on total student enrollment (694 students vs. 621 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); Tabor College is in Hillsboro, KS (Remote Town setting).
• Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tabor College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; Tabor College 15:1.

SC vs. Tabor Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Tabor? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tabor College than SC ($20,681 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 11.2% lower than at Tabor College ($9,586 vs. $10,800).
• Tabor College is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SC (about $2,500 more per year; $36,200.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Tabor than at Sterling College (about $2,500 more per year; $36,200.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College as at Tabor College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tabor College students is 25.3% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($29,669 vs. $23,673).

SC vs. Tabor Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or Tabor? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tabor and SC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is 50 points higher than at Tabor (980).
• Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Tabor).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Tabor College 830/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Tabor College 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; Tabor - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Tabor (3.23).
• Tabor has a higher acceptance rate (64.6%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 37.7% at Tabor.

SC vs. Tabor Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and Tabor? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Tabor College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
• Graduates from Tabor College earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,900 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tabor College graduates have a $1,663 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($23,000 vs. $24,663).
• Among borrowers, Tabor graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SC graduates ($237 vs. $255).
• More Tabor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.