Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #550 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,253 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #208 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Fort Hays State University's composite ranking reflects its balance of affordability and career-aligned outcomes for regional students. The institution's earnings performance and cost structure combine to deliver consistent value across its business-focused program mix.
Azimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #550 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Hays, Kansas, Fort Hays State University enrolls roughly 9,733 undergraduates. Retention stands at 76.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.7%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Fort Hays State University draws a broad student population: 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.5% are first-generation college students. Where the institution performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #785 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,253 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fort Hays State University in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite reflects a balanced profile across access, mobility, and affordability. Fort Hays State University sits in the 43.1 percentile for access, the 58.7 percentile for mobility, and the 85.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a master's-level public university anchored in business and professional fields, Fort Hays State University positions itself as a practical pathway to stable career outcomes for students seeking affordable, accessible higher education in the Great Plains.
Fort Hays State University's published cost of attendance is $19,909. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $7,661, middle-income families pay around $11,941, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,641. Azimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #208 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Fort Hays State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most students receive some form of financial aid, with need-based aid covering a meaningful share of cost for low- and middle-income families. The institution's affordability position reflects both its public-tuition baseline and the breadth of its aid reach across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,833; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,419, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Fort Hays State University is a public university in Hays, Kansas that delivers strong outcomes for students focused on business and applied fields, especially those planning to stay in the Midwest region after graduation. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,419, placing Fort Hays State University in the 31.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $1,253 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.5% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Fort Hays State University in the 26.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business, and the regional labor market favors graduates who plan to stay in KS or the broader Midwest. Students whose interests align with those areas will find strong outcomes relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,165.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Fort Hays State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Fort Hays State University's published cost of attendance is $19,909. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $7,661, middle-income families pay around $11,941, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,641.
Azimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #208 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Fort Hays State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Most students receive some form of financial aid, with need-based aid covering a meaningful share of cost for low- and middle-income families.
The institution's affordability position reflects both its public-tuition baseline and the breadth of its aid reach across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,833; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,419, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Fort Hays State University earn median 4-year earnings of $56,419, placing Fort Hays State University in the 31.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fort Hays State University sits in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Fort Hays State University #785 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to KS's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,165 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential).
Business is the dominant program family at Fort Hays State University, representing 42% of degrees and anchoring the institution's earnings profile. Business Administration is the largest program with 950 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $61,153, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Finance program graduates 233 students earning $64,524, and the The Teacher Education program graduates 178 students earning $45,190. General Studies rounds out the top programs with 174 graduates earning $53,176.
This concentration in applied professional fields supports stable early-career outcomes and positions graduates for steady workforce integration in the Kansas labor market and beyond.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
129 graduates
Computer Programming
148 graduates
Political Science and Government
17 graduates
Information Science/Studies
71 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
233 graduates
Fort Hays State University's program mix centers on Business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional public university identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 950 graduates annually, followed by Finance, Teacher Education, General Studies, and Economics.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 2,985 students annually, several deliver solid earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. Nursing leads the earnings profile, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $79,957 from a cohort of 129 students.
Computer Game Programming follows with median earnings of $73,380 across 148 graduates, while Finance delivers median earnings of $64,524. Business Administration and Subject-Specific Teacher Education round out the strongest-earning programs, with graduates earning $61,153 and $53,945 respectively.
The concentration of earnings strength in Business and related applied fields reflects Fort Hays State University's positioning as a career-focused regional institution. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.
Business Administration, Finance, and Teacher Education together account for a substantial share of degree output and connect students to stable regional employment in fields with consistent hiring demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Fort Hays State University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Illinois University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15661 ranked) | IL | 71% | $54,163 | #15661 | Compare |
Louisiana State University-Alexandria Similar quality tier (#15648 ranked) | LA | 92% | $42,205 | #15648 | Compare |
Colorado Mesa University Similar quality tier (#15645 ranked) | CO | 82% | $45,823 | #15645 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15633 ranked) | WI | 92% | $52,021 | #15633 | Compare |
Pittsburg State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15631 ranked) | KS | 89% | $50,579 | #15631 | Compare |
