High-Quality Campus and Online Education at FHSU
Fort Hays State University appears in our ranking of the Top 15 Most Affordable MBA in Hospitality Management Online Programs.
Ranked the Midwest’s 27th best value by Washington Monthly, Fort Hays State University is a public, coed MIAA member in Northwest Kansas that confers three associate, 57 bachelor’s, and 21 graduate degrees, including 48 fully online Virtual College options, at a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the BS in Medical Diagnostic Imaging follows a 64-credit, 2.5-year transfer track headed by Dr. Christa Beiker for certified ARRT professionals to take 400-level online courses like Mammography, complete Midwest preceptorships, and engage with the Society of Student Sonographers. Chaired by Dr. Laura Wilson, the 124-credit BS in Geology provides opportunities to conduct Field Camp research, travel from Cameroon to Croatia, compete at the AAPG Challenge Bowl, and join Sternberg Club.
Online on Blackboard, the Robbins College of Business & Entrepreneurship led by Dr. Melissa Hunsicker Walburn grants a 34-credit MBA in Finance that mixes 600-level classes like Investment Banking with capstone projects for 96 percent job placement at the FDIC, Koch Industries, Wal-Mart, Deloitte, and others. Directed by Dr. Paul Adams, the MSE in Mathematics Education shapes a 33-credit, CAEP-accredited online curriculum where teachers can create Tk20 portfolios, secure Hays Unified School District internships, and attend the Olliff Family Educational Symposium for 100 percent Praxis success.
Other degrees include the BA in Foreign Language, BA in Sociology, BS in Information Networking, BS in Criminal Justice, MLS in Gerontology, MPS in Music, MBA Tourism And Hospitality Management Concentration, and EdS in School Psychology.
About Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University originated in September 1902 when President William S. Picken welcomed an inaugural class of 23 to the former US Army fort for the Western Branch State Normal School. In 1914, it split from Emporia State University and became Fort Hays Kansas State Normal School. In 1923, it was renamed the Kansas State Teachers College of Hays. In 1931, instruction expanded beyond teacher preparation at Fort Hays State College. By 1967, Fort Hays State opened its General George A. Forsyth Library. In 1969, its 100,000-square-foot Museum of Natural History was dedicated to George F. Sternberg. In 1977, the Fort Hays State University name was adopted. In 1996, Fort Hays notably won the NCAA Division II men’s basketball championship. In 1999, FHSU launched the Department of Continuing Education & Learning Technology for online degrees.
Endowed for $98.3 million, Fort Hays State University now employs 960 full-time staff serving 15,523 Tigers from 25 countries online, on the 21-building Hays campus, or at Sias University for the China Program with 200+ clubs like the Google Educators Group. In 2016, FHSU had the Summer Institute on Distance Learning & Instructional Technology Innovation Award recipient. In 2013, Fort Hays State won the NACADA Outstanding Advising Technology Innovation Award. Fort Hays State University accepted the 2008 OLC Excellence in Institution-Wide Online Education Award too. The U.S. News & World Report picked FHSU 35th for nursing, 42nd for bachelor’s, 54th for teaching, and 113rd for business programs online. On Niche, FHSU boasts America’s 30th best distance education, 269th best Greek life, and 289th top public schooling. College Factual applauded Fort Hays State for the 89th best agriculture, 104th top hospitality, and 157th best geography degrees. Online Degree Reviews named FHSU 34th countrywide.
Fort Hays State University Accreditation Details
On September 20, 2018, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) issued a new Institutional Status Report for Fort Hays State University that extended the Level V accreditation through 2023-24 under President Tisa Mason, EdD, who earned the Sigma Kappa Colby Achievement Award. Located 778 miles northeast via Interstate 70 in Chicago, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The Office of the Provost also lists the following current degree-specific accreditations:
- Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Accreditation
- National Association of Schools of Music
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Fort Hays State University Application Requirements
Getting into Fort Hays State University is classified “minimally difficult” by Peterson’s because 1,929 of the 2,126 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for high 90.7 percent acceptance. First-year Tigers must finish the Kansas Qualified Admissions Pre-College Curriculum or its equivalent. GED tests after 2014 must be graded 580 or higher to qualify. The Class of 2022 presented an average GPA of 3.37. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 970-1180. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 18-24. Enrollment is test-optional for transfers with 24+ credits at GPAs above 2.0 and nontraditional students age 21 or older. International students must submit the ESL Agreement or achieve at least 500 TOEFL pBT and 5.5 IELTS scores. The Graduate School mandates a regionally accredited bachelor’s or higher degree with minimum 2.5 GPAs. Some programs, MA in English, require 3.0 GPAs. Master’s nursing cohorts must verify valid RN licensure and one year of experience. The MS in Speech-Language Pathology seeks 146 verbal and 146 quantitative GRE scores.
Fort Hays State University conveniently has rolling admission year-round. Final enrollment deadlines are currently August 7th for Fall, January 2nd for Spring, and May 22nd for Summer. The Honors College closes on March 15th. It’s suggested international students apply by June 1st or October 15th. Certain Graduate School programs also enforce strict deadlines. For instance, the Master of Fine Arts seeks entrants by February 1st and July 1st. MS in Psychology cohorts apply until March 15th. Doctor of Nursing Practice materials are due November 1st. Check degree dates for completing the $30 ($40 if graduate) FHSU Application online. Send sealed transcripts to 701 Park Street in Hays, KS 67601. Forward official tests using SAT/GRE code 6218 or ACT code 1408. Learn supplemental steps by contacting (785) 628-5666 or [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Fort Hays State University is charging traditional in-state undergrads $175 per credit or $2,637 each semester full-time. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition is $511 per credit or $7,671 each semester. The Midwest Student Exchange Program drops the cost to $242 per credit. Residing at the Hays campus’ dorms like Wooster Place adds $8,210 for yearly room and board. FHSU budgets $606 for books and supplies. Annual traditional attendance equals about $14,090 in-state, $24,248 out-of-state, and $16,088 from the Midwest. The Virtual College prices associate and bachelor’s courses at $218 per credit. Online graduate programs cost $287 per credit. Online MBA and DNP cohorts spend more at $400 per credit. Campus graduate tuition is $241 for Kansans and $609 for non-residents per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Assistance Office in Picken Hall Room 202 links 98 percent of beginning full-time FHSU Tigers to tuition aid averaging $4,760 apiece for $4.18 million combined. Institutional funds include the Allison Chaput Memorial Scholarship, Barbara Carter Ramsey Scholarship, Marguerite Eckles Mann Scholarship, Dr. Maurice Witten Scholarship, Dreher Family Scholarship, Russ Pfannenstiel Scholarship, Prasad Family Scholarship, Dr. Cynthia Krueger Scholarship, Martin & Amelia Gross Scholarship, James Costigan Memorial Scholarship, and Kansas Farm Bureau Scholarship. The Presidential Award of Distinction gifts $3,500 annually to exemplary freshmen exceeding the 29 ACT or 1350 SAT score minimum. The $2,250 Phi Theta Kappa All-Academic Team Member Award has a February 15th deadline for current undergrads maintaining GPAs above 3.5. Federal programs, such as the Pell Grant or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, require FAFSA forms coded 001915. Kansans could also utilize the Comprehensive Grant, Ethnic Minority Scholarship, Military Scholarship, Nurse Educator Scholarship, Teacher Service Scholarship, and more.
Explore 33 accredited departments that house 80+ flexible, first-rate degrees placed 630th overall by The Economist at the Fort Hays State University website.