Fort Hays State University vs. KU

Should I go to Fort Hays State University or University of Kansas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fort Hays State University or KU 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. University of Kansas comparison
Fort Hays State University University of Kansas College 3 College 4
University of Kansas
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Overview

 Fort Hays State University KU
Location Hays, KS Lawrence, KS
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 12,949 26,708
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #862 #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fhsu.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Fort Hays State University KU
Tuition (In State) $4,140 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $14,580 $26,960
Room & Board $8,481 $10,136
Avg Net Price $13,322 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $5,387 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 87%

Admission

 Fort Hays State University KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,828 16,204
Admitted 1,609 14,234
Acceptance Rate 88% 87.8%
Enrolled % 51.3% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 21/28
SAT Range 940/1190 1090/1340
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 KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

 Fort Hays State University KU
Graduation Rate 40% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,400 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,718 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $214 $211

Diversity

 Fort Hays State University KU
% Men 38% 45%
% Women 62% 55%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 72%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 29% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Fort Hays State University KU
% In-State 80% 58%
% Out-of-State 17% 39%

Campus

 Fort Hays State University KU
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

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Fort Hays State University based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 12,949 students)

Fort Hays State University vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fort Hays State University or KU?

  • University of Kansas is 143.8% more expensive to attend than Fort Hays State University for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $4,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 84.9% higher at KU than Fort Hays State University ($26,960.00 vs. $14,580.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fort Hays State University than KU ($13,322 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Hays State University are 19.5% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($8,481 vs. $10,136)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than Fort Hays State University (87% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 106.8% larger than aid received Fort Hays State University ($11,140 vs. $5,387)

Fort Hays State University vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Fort Hays State University (3.45)
  • Fort Hays State University has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than KU (87.8%)

Fort Hays State University vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fort Hays State University or KU? 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 KU and Fort Hays State University.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Fort Hays State University (61% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $13,200 more per year than Fort Hays State University graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $41,400)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $218 lower median federal student loan debt than Fort Hays State University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $20,718)
  • KU graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Fort Hays State University graduates. ($211 vs. $214)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Hays State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

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