Fort Hays State University vs. St. Cloud State University

Should I go to Fort Hays State University or Saint Cloud State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fort Hays State University or St. Cloud State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Fort Hays State University vs. Saint Cloud State University comparison
Fort Hays State University Saint Cloud State University College 3 College 4
Saint Cloud State University
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Overview

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
Location Hays, KS Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 12,949 10,420
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #862 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fhsu.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $4,140 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $14,580 $18,695
Room & Board $8,481 $9,950
Avg Net Price $13,322 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $5,387 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 98%

Admission

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,828 4,810
Admitted 1,609 4,583
Acceptance Rate 88% 95.3%
Enrolled % 51.3% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 940/1190 1027/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 40% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,400 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,718 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $214 $232

Diversity

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
% Men 38% 43%
% Women 62% 57%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 73%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 29% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
% In-State 80% 75%
% Out-of-State 17% 11%

Campus

Fort Hays State University St. Cloud State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fort Hays State University is larger than than St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 10,420 students)

Fort Hays State University vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fort Hays State University or St. Cloud State University?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 112.8% more expensive to attend than Fort Hays State University for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $4,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.2% higher at St. Cloud State University than Fort Hays State University ($18,695.00 vs. $14,580.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fort Hays State University than St. Cloud State University ($13,322 vs. $14,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Hays State University are 17.3% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($8,481 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Fort Hays State University (98% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Cloud State University students is 12.2% larger than aid received Fort Hays State University ($6,042 vs. $5,387)

Fort Hays State University vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fort Hays State University or St. Cloud State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St. Cloud State University or Fort Hays State University .

  • Accepted freshman Fort Hays State University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Fort Hays State University (88%)

Fort Hays State University vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fort Hays State University or St. Cloud State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between St. Cloud State University and Fort Hays State University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Fort Hays State University (48% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $5,300 more per year than Fort Hays State University graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $41,400)
  • Fort Hays State University students graduate with a $1,782 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($20,718 vs. $22,500)
  • Fort Hays State University graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($214 vs. $232)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Hays State University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/