Southwestern College vs Tabor College: which has better ROI?
Tabor College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,820 in 14.2 years versus 16.4 years at Southwestern College, on median earnings of $54,058 vs $55,646 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern College | Tabor College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,824 | $20,205 |
| Total net cost | $119,296 | $80,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,646 | $54,058 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,887 |
| Payback | 16.4 yrs | 14.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $26,424 | $33,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern College or Tabor College?
Tabor College, at $20,205 a year after aid versus $29,824 — a gap of $9,619 a year, or $38,476 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern College or Tabor College graduates earn more?
Southwestern College graduates report a median $55,646 ten years after entry, $1,588 more than the $54,058 at Tabor 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Southwestern College or Tabor College?
Tabor College: its completers carry a median $23,887 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Southwestern College, a difference of $1,113. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Southwestern College, against 34% at Tabor 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.