Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University is a public research university in Hays, Kansas, serving roughly 9,733 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 90.26% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,928 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $5,923
- 2024 Average Net Price: $12,569 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 90.26% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 9,733 48.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.70%
- Average SAT Score: 1089
Fort Hays State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Fort Hays State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Fort Hays State University?
Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, KS (ZIP 67601-4099).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Fort Hays State University public or private?
Fort Hays State University is a Public institution.
How much does Fort Hays State University cost?
Published tuition: $5,923 in-state, $17,741 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $12,569.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,661 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,776 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,941 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,266 |
| $110,001+ | $16,641 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $23,692.
How hard is it to get into Fort Hays State University?
Admission rate: 90.26%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1089.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Fort Hays State University?
Total enrollment: 9,733 students.
About 48% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Fort Hays State University?
150%-time completion rate: 47.70%.
First-year retention: 76.9%.
What do graduates of Fort Hays State University earn?
Median earnings: $44,428 six years after entry; $48,928 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,000.
22.78% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Fort Hays State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (3,183 completions)
- Finance, General (290 completions)
- Liberal Arts & Sciences (191 completions)
- Agricultural Business and Management (185 completions)
- Elementary Education & Teaching (145 completions)
- Social Sciences - 45.0605 (143 completions)
- CIP 520205 (143 completions)
- General Psychology (133 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (120 completions)
- CIP 131001 (116 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Fort Hays State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 90.26%; completion rate 47.70%; median earnings $48,928 at 10 years; net price $12,569. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$5,923
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Fort Hays State University was $5,923.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$12,569
2024 Value
In 2024 Fort Hays State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,569.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,276 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$12,569 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$23,692 4-Year In-State Tuition
$70,964 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Fort Hays State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
22.78% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
24.30% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Fort Hays State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Fort Hays State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,358 | $12,821 | $11,268 |
| 2014 | $4,469 | $13,159 | $11,603 |
| 2015 | $4,654 | $13,657 | $11,872 |
| 2016 | $4,884 | $14,426 | $12,039 |
| 2017 | $5,009 | $14,832 | $12,376 |
| 2018 | $5,130 | $15,210 | $12,340 |
| 2019 | $5,280 | $15,360 | $12,053 |
| 2020 | $5,430 | $15,870 | $13,189 |
| 2021 | $5,430 | $15,870 | $13,515 |
| 2022 | $5,430 | $15,870 | $13,096 |
| 2023 | $5,633 | $16,811 | $13,493 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
90.26% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1089
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
48.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Fort Hays State University in 2024 is 9,733 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.90% 100% Completion Time
47.70% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.90% of students graduating from Fort Hays State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Fort Hays State University.
Return on Investment
$21,000 Median Student Debt
$48,928 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
42.92% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
873.19% Return on Investment
4.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Fort Hays State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Finance, General: 290 completions
Liberal Arts & Sciences: 191 completions
Agricultural Business and Management: 185 completions
Elementary Education & Teaching: 145 completions
Social Sciences - 45.0605: 143 completions
CIP 52.0205: 143 completions
General Psychology: 133 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 120 completions
CIP 13.1001: 116 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 3,183 completions
Most popular programs at Fort Hays State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Fort Hays State University graduates.
About
Fort Hays State University is a public institution located in Hays, KS, offering 54 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 9,733 students. The admission rate is 90.26%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1089. The institution maintains a 47.70% graduation rate. Approximately 22.78% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Hays, KS 67601-4099
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 54 distinct degree programs, Fort Hays State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Fort Hays State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $5,923 and average net price is $12,569 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Fort Hays State University?
The admission rate is 90.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Fort Hays State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Fort Hays State University reports midpoint SAT about 1089.
What do graduates of Fort Hays State University earn?
Median earnings are $44,428 six years after entry and $48,928 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Fort Hays State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Fort Hays State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,000.
How big is Fort Hays State University?
Total enrollment is about 9,733 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Fort Hays State University public or private?
Fort Hays State University is a public institution located in Hays, KS.
Is Fort Hays State University an HBCU?
No. Fort Hays State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Fort Hays State University a tribal college?
No. Fort Hays State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Fort Hays State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Fort Hays State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 6.9%).
Is Fort Hays State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Fort Hays State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.