Back to Colleges
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS 9,733 Undergrads 59.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$20,455
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,333
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,032
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,333
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,032Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,030Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate59.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)26.8
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time48.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
90.3%
SAT Avg
1,089
SAT Reading
25th: 50054075th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 47051075th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 24
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$505k
+$35k
+$19k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$446k
-$24k
-$40k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$431k
-$39k
-$55k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
47
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-68%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-75%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-33%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-54%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Associate's Degrees
Median Debt
$16,350
Earnings (4yr)
$62,165
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$22,850
Earnings (4yr)
$63,148
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$14,200
Earnings (4yr)
$58,520
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Agriculture, General
BachCIP: 0100
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$51,842
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$19,600
Earnings (4yr)
$58,463
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,499
Earnings (4yr)
$58,355
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,707
Earnings (4yr)
$61,153
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,526
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$17,393
Earnings (2yr)
$36,668
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$15,544
Earnings (4yr)
$50,246
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Computer Programming
BachCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$19,705
Earnings (4yr)
$73,380
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$23,335
Earnings (4yr)
$55,790
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$17,895
Earnings (4yr)
$64,524
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$20,287
Earnings (4yr)
$39,280
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$20,513
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,334
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,480
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$21,271
Earnings (4yr)
$67,823
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$21,845
Earnings (4yr)
$53,176
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$12,970
Earnings (4yr)
$62,261
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,848
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,384
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,898
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,957
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,549
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,554
Earnings (4yr)
$44,405
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,190
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$16,682
Earnings (4yr)
$53,945
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Master's Degrees
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$29,374
Earnings (4yr)
$98,630
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,149
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,261
Earnings (4yr)
$55,830
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$24,447
Earnings (4yr)
$71,570
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$27,805
Earnings (4yr)
$64,964
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,851
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$24,662
Earnings (4yr)
$66,697
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,852
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$109,691
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$277k
Research and Experimental Psychology
MastCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,097
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,958
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$31,004
Earnings (4yr)
$51,758
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,641
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.