Fort Hays State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Hays, Kansas. It enrolls 9,733 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes40
Value82
Affordability54
Selectivity23
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.3%, Fort Hays State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
970 – 1140
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Fort Hays State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fort Hays State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,569 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,569
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
24%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,923
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,741
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,120
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,120
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,064
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,064
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,909
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,661
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,776
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,941
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,266
Over $110,000
$16,641
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,000Medianpercentile
$24,08175%percentile
$34,72090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,359
↓ $5,641
No Pell $12,500
↓ $8,500
Dependent students $13,147
↓ $7,853
Independent students $15,750
↓ $5,250
Female students $14,589
↓ $6,411
Male students $13,531
↓ $7,469
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($21,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
37% of full-time students who enrolled at Fort Hays State University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fort Hays State University earn a median of $48,928 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,928
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,500, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fort Hays State University is home to 9,733 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students, 52% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
9,733
Part-Time
52%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.6%4,825
Hispanic 6.9%675
Black 3.0%293
Other 2.5%247
Asian 2.3%223
International 0.1%14
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fort Hays State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteHays, Kansas
Housing
Partly residential1,731 beds available
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Fort Hays State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
63 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fort Hays State University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,947
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$153M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,269
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
352 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
67
19%
$96,038
Associate Professors
77
22%
$77,948
Assistant Professors
119
34%
$64,468
Instructors
71
20%
$54,538
Lecturers
18
5%
$61,465
Pros & Cons of Fort Hays State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fort Hays State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Fort Hays State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fort Hays State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fort Hays State University.
Is Fort Hays State University hard to get into?
Fort Hays State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Fort Hays State University?
Fort Hays State University has an acceptance rate of 90.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fort Hays State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fort Hays State University scored between 970 and 1140 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Fort Hays State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fort Hays State University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Fort Hays State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fort Hays State University is $12,569 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fort Hays State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,928 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,569 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fort Hays State University known for?
Fort Hays State University is best known for its programs in Finance, Business Administration, Economics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fort Hays State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fort Hays State University are $48,928, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fort Hays State University accredited?
Yes. Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Fort Hays State University?
Fort Hays State University enrolls 9,733 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fort Hays State University?
Fort Hays State University graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fort Hays State University a public or private college?
Fort Hays State University is a Public institution.
Where is Fort Hays State University located?
Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas.
What programs does Fort Hays State University offer?
Fort Hays State University offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Finance, Business Administration, Economics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fort Hays State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fort Hays State University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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