10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$149,626at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS · 39 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 34 · Federal debt reported for 27
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$149,626 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
28.6 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−65%Estimated return after 10 years
$53,065Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $9,120 housing and food allowance plus $5,064 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$99,350
$8,000Annual price−$131,350
$13,000Current college-wide context−$151,350
$16,000Annual price−$163,350
$24,000Annual price−$195,350
$32,000Annual price−$227,350
$40,000Annual price−$259,350
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- Town
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
329 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Kansas run 10% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$12,569Average net price / year
$19,909Cost of attendance
$21,000Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$223/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$53,065Median earnings · year 5 after completion
47.7%Completion rate
90.3%Admission rate
1,089Average SAT score
9,733Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about Fort Hays State University
What does Fort Hays State University cost?
Fort Hays State University reports an average annual net price of $12,569 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do Fort Hays State University graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $53,065 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do Fort Hays State University graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $21,000. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at Fort Hays State University worth the same?
No. The current release contains 39 field-and-degree records for Fort Hays State University; 34 report year-4 earnings and 27 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
16,521Students enrolled at any point
12,902Undergraduate students
3,619Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
47% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
631 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
55% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$42,404Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$51,325Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$54,609Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income49%
Middle income64%
Higher income69%
Undergraduate student composition
White50%
Black3%
Hispanic7%
Asian2%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$46,394Year 1
$56,419Year 4
$53,065Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$98,6302Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$79,9573Computer Programming · Bachelor's Degree$73,3804Political Science and Government · Bachelor's Degree$72,3845Educational Administration and Supervision · Master's Degree$71,5706Information Science/Studies · Bachelor's Degree$67,8237Psychology, General · Master's Degree$66,8528Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other · Master's Degree$66,697Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree · $72,384 reported+14%vs same-degree national median$30,468federal debt2Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree · $53,945 reported+5%vs same-degree national median$23,082federal debt3Research and Experimental PsychologyMaster's Degree · $66,097 reported+5%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Social WorkBachelor's Degree · $53,549 reported+3%vs same-degree national median$27,000federal debt5Psychology, GeneralMaster's Degree · $66,852 reported+3%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt6Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $51,898 reported+2%vs same-degree national median$29,000federal debt
Comparable colleges in KS
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Wichita, KS
Wichita State University
- Annual net price
- $13,194
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $54,872
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -58%
Washburn University
- Annual net price
- $15,280
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $53,209
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -66%
Fort Hays Tech North Central
- Annual net price
- $12,393
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $49,748
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -79%
Washburn Institute of Technology
- Annual net price
- $8,607
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $53,209
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -62%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing all 39 field-and-degree records in the current release.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $98,630 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $79,957 | $24,726 | Not reported |
| Computer Programming | Bachelor's Degree | $73,380 | $28,000 | Not reported |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $72,384 | $30,468 | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Master's Degree | $71,570 | Not available | 18 |
| Information Science/Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $67,823 | $26,427 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Master's Degree | $66,852 | Not available | Not reported |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Master's Degree | $66,697 | Not available | Not reported |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | Master's Degree | $66,097 | Not available | 15 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Master's Degree | $65,851 | Not available | Not reported |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | Bachelor's Degree | $65,526 | $26,564 | Not reported |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | Master's Degree | $64,964 | Not available | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $64,524 | $19,520 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $63,148 | $26,000 | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $62,261 | $31,000 | Not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate's Degree | $62,165 | $19,626 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $61,153 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Special Education and Teaching | Master's Degree | $60,958 | Not available | Not reported |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Master's Degree | $59,149 | Not available | Not reported |
| Agricultural Business and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $58,520 | $19,250 | Not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Bachelor's Degree | $58,463 | $30,950 | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $58,355 | $22,000 | Not reported |
| Education, General | Master's Degree | $55,830 | Not available | Not reported |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Bachelor's Degree | $55,790 | $28,750 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Bachelor's Degree | $53,945 | $23,082 | Not reported |
| Social Work | Bachelor's Degree | $53,549 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Bachelor's Degree | $53,176 | $26,573 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $51,898 | $29,000 | Not reported |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | Master's Degree | $51,758 | Not available | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Master's Degree | $51,641 | Not available | Not reported |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $50,246 | $24,000 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $45,190 | $30,800 | Not reported |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $44,405 | $33,482 | Not reported |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $39,280 | $22,937 | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | Not available | $24,610 | Not reported |
| Agriculture, General | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $20,340 | Not reported |
| Chemistry | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $31,000 | Not reported |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $23,875 | Not reported |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $24,119 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.