Hays, Kansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Hays, Kansas: median public in-state tuition $5,923 (+7.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $48,928 (-10.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,416 (+16.2% vs U.S.) 9,816 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 9,816 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $5,923 (+7.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,928 (-10.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.6% (+0.6 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $13,590 (+36.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,416 (+16.2% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 47.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 76.9%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Hays serve students across Kansas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 9,816 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $5,923. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Hays, Kansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Hays vs Kansas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays, Kansas | $5,923 | $13,590 | $15,416 | 47.7% | 9,816 |
| Kansas (state median) | $4,260 | $9,905 | $10,500 | 47.0% | 130,768 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Hays, Kansas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays, Kansas | $48,928 | 88.6% | 76.9% | 5.1% | — | 76.1% | 0.43 |
| Kansas (state median) | $52,644 | 91.8% | 65.8% | 6.0% | — | 75.1% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Kansas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays, Kansas | $5,923 | $13,590 | $15,416 | 47.7% | 9,816 | $48,928 | 88.6% |
| Lawrence | $6,351 | $15,143 | $14,458 | 43.4% | 22,232 | $61,945 | 92.5% |
| Wichita | $16,364 | $17,847 | $13,000 | 51.0% | 17,300 | $52,113 | 91.9% |
| Manhattan | $11,221 | $21,810 | $15,375 | 57.7% | 15,839 | $57,262 | 93.0% |
| Overland Park | $13,296 | $16,828 | $11,166 | 42.9% | 12,547 | $55,552 | 88.6% |
| Topeka | $9,945 | $15,280 | $19,513 | 49.2% | 5,536 | $49,774 | 89.8% |
| Kansas City | $6,825 | $14,110 | $10,318 | 45.8% | 3,714 | N/A | N/A |
| Kansas City | $6,825 | $14,110 | $10,318 | 45.8% | 3,714 | N/A | N/A |
| Emporia | $6,753 | $16,139 | $13,062 | 56.1% | 2,591 | $47,601 | 91.9% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Hays, Kansas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 47.7%, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 88.6%, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Most selective college in Hays, Kansas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 90.3%, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $67,435, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $79,957, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,428, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,876, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,928, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $170,941, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Most affordable college in Hays, Kansas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $12,569, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Top college in Hays, Kansas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 76.9%, Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
In-state tuition: Hays, Kansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Hays, Kansas median in-state tuition is $5,923, +7.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Hays, Kansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Hays, Kansas is $15,416 (+16.2% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Hays, Kansas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Hays, Kansas center around $48,928 (-10.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Hays, Kansas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.6% at the median Hays, Kansas campus (+0.6 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Hays, Kansas median public in-state tuition is $5,923, about +7.5% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is -4.8%.
Median graduate debt is $15,416 (+16.2% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Hays, Kansas are $48,928, about -10.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 88.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+0.6 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 76.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.1% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 76.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Fort Hays State University (88.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Hays, Kansas is 47.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Hays?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Hays, Kansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Hays?
Median in-state tuition in Hays is $5,923 and median net price is $13,590. For Kansas overall, medians are $4,260 and $9,905; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Hays?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Hays is $48,928 vs $52,644 for Kansas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Hays colleges?
Median completer debt in Hays is $15,416 vs $10,500 for Kansas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Hays?
Top campuses on this page include Fort Hays State University (graduation) and Fort Hays State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Hays?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Hays, Kansas, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Kansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON