Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Tabor College

Kansas liberal arts programs suggest earnings around $41,000 in the first year—right at the state median but above the national benchmark of $36,340. With an estimated $29,000 in debt for Tabor's program, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, which sits in manageable territory compared to the troublesome 1.0+ ratios that plague many humanities programs nationwide. The challenge is that these figures come from peer institutions in Kansas rather than Tabor's own graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether Tabor's specific outcomes match this pattern.

The comparison to Kansas programs with reported data is instructive: Fort Hays State and the University of Kansas both produce slightly higher first-year earnings while typically carrying lower debt loads. That said, Tabor serves a different student population (38% receive Pell grants) and offers a smaller college environment that some families specifically seek. The debt burden here isn't alarming—it's roughly equivalent to a year's salary—but it also doesn't leave much cushion if actual outcomes fall below the state average.

For families considering Tabor specifically, the key is understanding you're making this decision with limited visibility. If the campus community and personalized attention matter enough to justify potential uncertainty about financial outcomes, that's a valid choice. But if maximizing earnings potential is the priority, the larger Kansas public universities offer both reported data and marginally better numbers.