Head-to-head comparison
Ottawa University-Ottawa vs Tabor College: which has better ROI?
Option A Ottawa, KS
Ottawa University-Ottawa
- Net price / year
- $27,963
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,552
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
Option B Hillsboro, KS
Tabor College
- Net price / year
- $20,205
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,058
- Payback
- 14.2 yrs
Tabor College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,820 in 14.2 years versus 15.6 years at Ottawa University-Ottawa, on median earnings of $54,058 vs $55,552 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ottawa University-Ottawa | Tabor College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,963 | $20,205 |
| Total net cost | $111,852 | $80,820 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,552 | $54,058 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $23,887 |
| Payback | 15.6 yrs | 14.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $31,988 | $33,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ottawa University-Ottawa or Tabor College?
Tabor College, at $20,205 a year after aid versus $27,963 — a gap of $7,758 a year, or $31,032 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Ottawa University-Ottawa or Tabor College graduates earn more?
Ottawa University-Ottawa graduates report a median $55,552 ten years after entry, $1,494 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Ottawa University-Ottawa or Tabor College?
Ottawa University-Ottawa: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $23,887 at Tabor College, a difference of $2,387. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Tabor College, against 28% at Ottawa University-Ottawa. 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.