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Fort Hays State University
Admission at Fort Hays State University is close to open (90.3%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $48,928 median earnings below before the application.
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Fort Hays State University anchors the college town of Hays, KS, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $79,957 four years out. 22.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 9,733 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 76.9% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 970 and 1200 — above the KS middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Fort Hays State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Fort Hays State University received 2,174 applications and admitted 1,995 (91.8%), with 886 enrolling.
Fort Hays State University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 970–1200 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Fort Hays State University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 490 | 550 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 530 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Fort Hays State University compares
| Fort Hays State University | Kansas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90.3% | 80.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $5,923 | $33,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $48,928 | $52,113 | $53,781 |
At $48,928, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($52,113). Look at Fort Hays State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $5,923 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $17,741. For non-residents, Fort Hays State University's $17,741 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 9,733 undergrads, Fort Hays State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
47.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 52% don't — ask a Fort Hays State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Fort Hays State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $79,957 |
| Computer Programming | $73,380 |
| Political Science and Government | $72,384 |
| Information Science/Studies | $67,823 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $65,526 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $64,524 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,148 |
| Marketing | $62,261 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,153 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $58,520 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $58,463 |
| Biology, General | $58,355 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,790 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $53,945 |
| Social Work | $53,549 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $53,176 |
| Psychology, General | $51,898 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $50,246 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,190 |
| Sociology | $44,405 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,280 |
Median earnings for these 21 Fort Hays State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $48,928 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional Fort Hays State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Fort Hays State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 970–1200 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 90.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Fort Hays State University's acceptance rate?
91.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,995 admitted from 2,174 applicants.
How much does Fort Hays State University cost?
In-state tuition is $5,923; out-of-state students pay $17,741. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Fort Hays State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $48,928 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kansas
- Emporia State University — 97.7% admitted
- Haskell Indian Nations University — 90.4% admitted
- University of Kansas — 93.5% admitted
- Bethel College-North Newton — 93.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.