Fort Hays State University

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. 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 #784 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.

Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 950 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $61,153. Finance and Financial Management Services reports 233 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $64,524.

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods reports 178 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $45,190. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities reports 174 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,176.

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.