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Hays, KS · Wichita, KS
| Fort Hays State University | Wichita State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $12,569/yr | $13,194/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $7,661/yr | $9,734/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,000 | $20,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $9,776/yr | $9,696/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,941/yr | $13,564/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $14,266/yr | $16,893/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $16,641/yr | $19,184/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $223/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,120/yr | $12,420/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,120/yr | $13,030/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,250/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,064/yr | $3,560/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $19,909/yr | $21,780/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $5,923/yr | $9,684/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $17,741/yr | $19,869/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 23% | 31% |
| Students taking federal loans | 24% | 32% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 90% | 94% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 970–1140 | 905–1240 |
| SAT average | 1089 | 1092 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–24 | 17–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 16–24 · Math 16–24 | English 16–24 · Math 16–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,174 | 8,637 |
| Students accepted | 1,995 | 8,200 |
| Students who enrolled | 886 | 1,786 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 44% | 22% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 5% | 5% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 91% | 76% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| High-school transcript | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 48% | 51% |
| Freshmen who come back | 77% | 69% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $48,928/yr | $51,532/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,233–$68,294 | $33,001–$72,524 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 54% |
| White students graduating | 51% | 52% |
| Black students graduating | 33% | 35% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 36% | 46% |
| Asian students graduating | 33% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $44,428/yr | $44,043/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 70% | 71% |
| Graduate on time | 30% | 33% |
| Pell students who graduate | 41% | 47% |
| First-gen students who finish | 36% | 45% |
| Low-income students who finish | 31% | 40% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 26% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $46,876/yr | $47,823/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 32% · Education 13% · Health Professions 13% | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Health Professions 13% · Education 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 32% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Education — 13% of degrees | Health Professions — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 13% of degrees | Education — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Engineering — 10% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $97,536/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $116,584/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 11% | 22% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 9,733 | 10,780 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 19 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 2,706 | 3,376 |
| Average professor pay | $7,997/mo | $9,205/mo |
| Full-time professors | 51% | 64% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $42,454 | $43,391 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | City (large) |
| Location | Hays, KS | Wichita, KS |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1902 | 1886 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.1% | 4.7% |
| Men | 38% | 44% |
| Women | 62% | 56% |
| White students | 50% | 54% |
| Black students | 3% | 7.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.9% | 18% |
| Asian students | 2.3% | 7.8% |
| Two or more races | 2.2% | 5.6% |
| Other / not reported | 36% | 2.4% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 39% | 36% |
| Part-time students | 52% | 19% |
| Students age 25+ | 24% | 22% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $6,655/yr | $9,179/yr |
| Endowment | $174.7M | $335.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,731 | 1,396 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,249/yr | $7,010/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,523/yr | $5,210/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | No data reported |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division I without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 511 | 287 |
| Athletic scholarships | $3.1M | $4.8M |
| Athletics budget | $9.2M | $35.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $9.6M | $37.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $177,327 | $544,100 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.