Fort Hays State University
#1 Best Colleges in Kansas- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,928 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,569 B-
- 27% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 90% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Kansas.
Every $1 spent returns $21.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,041,000.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 20% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 9,733
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Social Sciences
Why students choose Fort Hays State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 90% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 970–1140. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,569 a year after grants and scholarships — 27% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,928 ten years after enrolling — 20% above the typical college, against $21,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 56% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 10,000 students call Fort Hays State University home, making it a vibrant hub of learning in Hays, Kansas. With a 90% acceptance rate, this public university welcomes a diverse range of students, creating an inclusive environment for academics and personal growth.
Data from Opportunity Insights indicates that graduates from Fort Hays experience a median income of $48,928 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure highlights the university's role in enhancing economic mobility, although specific metrics like graduation and mobility rates show room for improvement. The graduation rate stands at 48%, suggesting that students may face challenges in completing their degrees.
Finances play a critical role in student decisions. The average net price for attending Fort Hays is $12,569, with median debt at $21,000. Graduates emerge ready to enter the workforce, particularly in fields such as Business, Education, and Health Professions. This environment suits students who appreciate affordability and are focused on practical career outcomes.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Fort Hays State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fort Hays State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Fort Hays State University, located in Hays, Kansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,089. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1089
- SAT Range
- 970–1140
- ACT Range
- 18–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 51%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,997
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 1,828
- Admitted
- 1,609
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fort Hays State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fort Hays State University is $17,741, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,569. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,661 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,923
- Out-of-State
- $17,741
- Avg Net Price
- $12,569
- Median Debt
- $21,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 24%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,661
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,776
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,941
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,641
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Fort Hays State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Fort Hays State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $48,928, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,428
- 8 Years
- $46,876
- 10 Years
- $48,928
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (233)
- 25%
- 100% (233)
- 25%
- 100% (233)
- 25%
- 100% (233)
- 25%
How Fort Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Fort Hays State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Fort Hays State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,569/year ($50,276 total). Graduates earn $48,928 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,091,276 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,041,000 (21.7× your investment). The median debt is $21,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,276
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,091,276
- Net Return
- $1,041,000
- ROI Multiple
- 21.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,569
- Median Debt
- $21,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Fort Hays State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fort Hays State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.36%, well above the typical college. About 7.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.36%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $96,600
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,967,116
Top Programs
The fields Fort Hays State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 32% $68,105 early-career
- Education 13% $42,306 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $68,275 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $44,210 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $56,850 early-career
- Humanities 4%
- Psychology 4% $35,529 early-career
- English & Literature 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Fort Hays State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fort Hays State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Fort Hays State University, located in Hays, Kansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,089. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fort Hays State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fort Hays State University is $17,741, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,569. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,661 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,000 in federal student loans.
Is Fort Hays State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $48,928, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Fort Hays State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fort Hays State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.36%, well above the typical college. About 7.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $71,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Fort Hays State University.
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- Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH · Close peer50% grad $52,131 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · Close peer52% grad $51,151 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer41% grad $50,698 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southeastern Louisiana UniversityHammond, LA · Close peer45% grad $46,482 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
