Fort Hays State University vs. UNK

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

Fort Hays State University UNK
Location Hays, KS Kearney, NE
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 12,949 6,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #862 #571
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fhsu.edu unk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fort Hays State University UNK
Tuition (In State) $4,140 $6,220
Tuition (Out of State) $14,580 $12,036
Room & Board $8,481 $11,390
Avg Net Price $13,322 $16,564
Avg Grant Aid $5,387 $7,282
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 100%

Admission

Fort Hays State University UNK
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,828 6,794
Admitted 1,609 5,842
Acceptance Rate 88% 86%
Enrolled % 51.3% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.24
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/25
SAT Range 940/1190 1000/1200
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 UNK
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Fort Hays State University UNK
Graduation Rate 40% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,400 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,718 $21,250
Median Loan Payment $214 $219

Diversity

Fort Hays State University UNK
% Men 38% 34%
% Women 62% 66%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 79%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 29% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Fort Hays State University UNK
% In-State 80% 85%
% Out-of-State 17% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fort Hays State University is larger than than UNK based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 6,041 students)

Fort Hays State University vs. UNK Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Nebraska at Kearney is 50.2% more expensive to attend than Fort Hays State University for in-state tuition ($6,220.00 vs. $4,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.1% higher at Fort Hays State University than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($14,580.00 vs. $12,036.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fort Hays State University than UNK ($13,322 vs. $16,564)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fort Hays State University are 34.3% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,481 vs. $11,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Fort Hays State University (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 35.2% larger than aid received Fort Hays State University ($7,282 vs. $5,387)

Fort Hays State University vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fort Hays State University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UNK (3.24)
  • Fort Hays State University has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than UNK (86%)

Fort Hays State University vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Fort Hays State University (61% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $2,000 more per year than Fort Hays State University graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $41,400)
  • Fort Hays State University students graduate with a $532 lower median federal student loan debt than UNK graduates. ($20,718 vs. $21,250)
  • Fort Hays State University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than UNK graduates. ($214 vs. $219)
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fort Hays State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 60%)

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