Fort Hays State University vs. USC Aiken

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

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
Location Hays, KS Aiken, SC
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 12,949 3,840
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #862 #888
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fhsu.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $4,140 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $14,580 $20,856
Room & Board $8,481 $8,376
Avg Net Price $13,322 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $5,387 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 100%

Admission

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,828 2,453
Admitted 1,609 1,855
Acceptance Rate 88% 75.6%
Enrolled % 51.3% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 940/1190 950/1180
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 1, 2025

Academics

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 40% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,400 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,718 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $214 $268

Diversity

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
% Men 38% 36%
% Women 62% 64%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 58%
% Black 4% 27%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 29% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
% In-State 80% 87%
% Out-of-State 17% 11%

Campus

 Fort Hays State University USC Aiken
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 USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 3,840 students)

Fort Hays State University vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

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

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is 151.2% more expensive to attend than Fort Hays State University for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $4,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43% higher at USC Aiken than Fort Hays State University ($20,856.00 vs. $14,580.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Fort Hays State University ($11,872 vs. $13,322)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 1.3% lower than costs at Fort Hays State University ($8,376 vs. $8,481)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Fort Hays State University (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students is 83.6% larger than aid received Fort Hays State University ($9,891 vs. $5,387)

Fort Hays State University vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fort Hays State University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • Fort Hays State University has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)

Fort Hays State University vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at USC Aiken is higher than Fort Hays State University (41% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Fort Hays State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($41,400 vs. $39,600)
  • Fort Hays State University students graduate with a $5,282 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($20,718 vs. $26,000)
  • Fort Hays State University graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($214 vs. $268)
  • More Fort Hays State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

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