Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
90.3%
Acceptance Rate
$5,923
Avg Cost (In-State)
$17,741
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
47.8%
Graduation Rate
9,733
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
Rolling admissions
Common App
No
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for general admission
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$36,392
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$38,616
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $42,112 | $45,190 | 296 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $42,795 | $53,176 | 233 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $67,435 | $79,957 | 194 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $52,129 | $61,153 | 127 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | $43,273 | $53,945 | 126 |
| Psychology, General. | $40,009 | $51,898 | 118 |
| Information Science/Studies. | $56,399 | $67,823 | 82 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $42,428 | $55,790 | 65 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
Write a review →Verified with .edu email. We moderate for spam/abuse, never for sentiment. Reviewer names stay private.
No verified reviews of Fort Hays State University yet.
Are you a current student here? Be the first to share what you wish you'd known before enrolling.
Verify with .edu and write oneWhat will you actually pay?
Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Fort Hays State University
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Fort Hays State University
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Kansas Comprehensive Grant
Up to $3,500 (publics); $3,500 (privates)
stateKS residents with financial need at KS regents universities or KS private nonprofits.
Deadline: April 1
Learn more ↗Kansas State Scholar
Up to $1,000 (renewable)
stateTop KS HS seniors based on a state index of GPA, ACT/SAT, curriculum rigor.
Deadline: Auto-identified senior year
Learn more ↗Kansas Promise Scholarship
Tuition + fees at KS CCs in high-need fields
stateKS residents pursuing approved high-demand workforce programs at KS community colleges.
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
Up to $55,000/year
nationalHigh-achieving high school seniors with financial need (family income under $95,000). Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Deadline: November 18
Learn more ↗Siemens Competition (now part of Regeneron ISEF)
Up to $100,000
activityHigh school students who compete in regional and national ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Deadline: Varies by regional fair
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 90.3% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
90.26%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
22.8%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
38.5%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
10.3%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
76.9%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
47.7%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
90.3% acceptance
Both admit around 90% of applicants, with 18k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
90.4% acceptance
Both admit around 90% of applicants, with 18k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
90.1% acceptance
Both admit around 90% of applicants, with 19k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
84.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (85% vs 90%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $18k.
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
98.3% acceptance
Similar selectivity (98% vs 90%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $18k.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
97.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (98% vs 90%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $18k.
Ready to dig deeper?
Get your personalized research report for Fort Hays State University — scholarships, admissions strategy, costs, and a step-by-step playbook.