Fort Hays State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Fort Hays State University · Hays, Kansas · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Ranked #101 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest; Computer Science #541-587, Nursing #336 (tie), Economics #230-237U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Fort Hays State University (see the source).
Is Fort Hays State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Fort Hays State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Fort Hays State is a public university in Hays, Kansas that admits about 90% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $12,569 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Finance and Financial Management Services and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Fort Hays State is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. For the most recent reporting cycle, Fort Hays State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 90%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT around 1089. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,569 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Fort Hays State?
Fort Hays State has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare Fort Hays State with the other schools on your list
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SAT and ACT scores Fort Hays State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 470–560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–24. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1089 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| 25th percentile | 18 |
| 50th percentile | n/a |
| 75th percentile | 24 |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Kansas Regents standards: admit with 2.25+ GPA OR ACT 21+/SAT 1060+. Tests needed only below the GPA bar; homeschool/unaccredited applicants need ACT 21+.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Fort Hays State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Fort Hays State actually cost?
Published tuition is $5,923 for in-state students and $17,741 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $9,120 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $12,569 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 23% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $12,569 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Fort Hays State
Most popular majors at Fort Hays State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Fort Hays State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Finance and Financial Management Services and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. Across all programs, Fort Hays State confers roughly 2,127 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $63,192 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 950 | $63,192 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 233 | $52,869 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 178 | $46,374 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 174 | $51,328 |
| Economics | 156 | n/a |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 151 | n/a |
| Computer Programming | 148 | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 137 | $45,217 |
Is Fort Hays State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Fort Hays State disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 0.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 3 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Next steps for Fort Hays State
Common questions parents ask about Fort Hays State
What GPA do I need for Fort Hays State?
Fort Hays State has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Fort Hays State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 470–560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–24.
How much does Fort Hays State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Fort Hays State after grants and scholarships is $12,569 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $5,923 and $17,741 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Fort Hays State realistic for my child?
Fort Hays State admits 90% of applicants, so 470–560 SAT Math is target range and below 470 is a reach. Then check the $12,569 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Fort Hays State?
Fort Hays State accepts about 90% of applicants. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Fort Hays State test-optional?
Yes. Fort Hays State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. Kansas Regents standards: admit with 2.25+ GPA OR ACT 21+/SAT 1060+. Tests needed only below the GPA bar; homeschool/unaccredited applicants need ACT 21+.
Is Fort Hays State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Fort Hays State is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas.
What are the most popular majors at Fort Hays State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Fort Hays State by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Finance and Financial Management Services and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. The school awards about 2,127 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Fort Hays State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Fort Hays State reported 7 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 0.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Fort Hays State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers