Fort Hays State University was established in 1902 as the Western Branch of the Kansas Normal School. After going through a variety of name changes, it was finally managed to Fort Hays State University in 1977. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the institute is a renowned name in the US Education System with a campus set up in 200 acres of land in Hays, Kansas.

It offers an array graduate and undergraduate courses in the field of Arts, Humanities, Social science, Business administration, Education, Health, Science, and Technology. The institute started with a mere 57 students and currently has a total student population of around 15,523 students and 427 faculties.

Admissions at Fort Hays State University are offered in the seasonal intake of Fall And Spring. The institute with an acceptance rate of nearly 89% comes under the category of lighty selective institutes for studying in the USA. This along with a high employment rate of over 96% makes the institute one of the coveted and favored choices worth pursuing.

Fort Hays State University Campus

Rankings

  • U.S News & World Report Ranking:
    • Ranked between 117 - 153 among the regional universities in Midwest.
    • Ranked 119 as top performers on social mobility.
  • Niche Ranking 2023
    • Ranked 30 among 147 best online colleges in America.
    • 9th rank among 23 colleges with best professors in Kansan.
    • 10th rank among 21 best value colleges in Kansas.
    • 9th rank among 15 best colleges for Education in Kansas.
    • 12th rank among 20 most diverse colleges in Kansas.
    • 14th rank among 18 safest college campuses in Kansas.

Highlights

University Type Public
Campus Setting Rural
Accreditation Higher Learning Commission
Annual Endowment USD 91.4 million
Mode of Programs Full time; Part-time; Online
Student Housing Capacity 1,743
Application Fee 50 USD
Application Season Fall and Spring
English language proficiency score TOEFL or equivalent
Financial Aid Available as Loans, Scholarships and Grants
Admission Helpdesk 785-628-5666 | tigers@fhsu.edu

Programs, Campus and Accommodation

Courses

Through its 5 academic colleges, Fort Hays State University offers a plethora of courses for international students at the ranging levels of undergraduate, graduate and doctorate. The available options include more than 60 undergraduate majors and about 20 graduate programs along with a doctoral degree program in Nursing for students to choose from.

The 5 colleges of the institute are namely, College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, College of Education, College of Health & Behavioral Sciences, and College of Science, Technology & Mathematics.

The institute also provides associate degrees and online programs that have constantly been top-ranked with respect to affordability..

Campus

  • The campus spans across 200 acres of land out of the 4160 acres of land which is owned by the state and is deemed to the university.
  • The campus has more than 40 buildings dedicated to learning, recreation and residence.
  • It also includes the Sternberg Museum of Natural history which features interactive natural science exhibitions.
  • A stream called the Big creek also traverses the campus which offers research content for students in the biological sciences.

Housing Facilities/Residence

The institute offers on-campus accommodation for its candidates. About 11% of the students live on campus across its 7 residential buildings which accounts to accommodation to nearly 1,800 students in a growth-facilitating environment that allows better personal and professional interactions.

The residence halls available are namely, Custer hall, Mcmindes hall, Stadium palace, Tiger place, Victoria E. Village, Dane G. Hansen Scholarship Hall, Wooster Place.

These residential buildings usually consist of cafes, recreation rooms, 2R classrooms & living rooms, private study rooms, free laundry, etc. The rooms in these buildings provide amenities like height-adjustable beds, desks, mirrors, dressers, closets, cabinets, etc.

Fort Hays State University Admission Process

Application Portal: Apply online at International students application

Application fees: 50 USD

Application deadlines

Some of the deadlies to be observed strictly when applying to the institute are as tabulated below.

Intake seasons Undergraduate deadline Graduate deadline
Fall Semester January 1 June 1
Spring Semester October 15 October 1

Basic Admission Requirements

  • Minimum GPA: 2.5 out of 4.0
  • Minimum scores required in English proficiency tests:
English Proficiency tests Minimum scores for Undergraduate admission Minimum scores for Graduate admission
TOEFL (paper-based) 500+ 500+
TOEFL (computer-based) 173+ 213+
TOEFL (internet-based) 61+ 79+
IELTS 5.5+ 6.5+
iTEP 4 5

Supporting documents:

  • Official transcripts showing the subjects studied and grades acquired. It should be submitted by the institutes attended.
  • Official English translation of the transcripts.
  • A course-by-course evaluation of the transcripts by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or World Education Service (WES).
  • Original certified bank statement showing sufficient funds to pay for the educational expenses in the US.
  • Scores of English proficiency test submitted by the testing agency.
  • Copy of passport.

Additional documents required for graduate admission:

  • Official transcripts of the bachelor's degree submitted by the institute attended. 
  • Personal statement including details about career goals, reasons for pursuing a particular course, work experience, etc.
  • 2 to 3 letters of recommendation.
  • Scorecard of entrance examinations like GMAT, GRE, MAT, etc

Fort Hays State University Cost of Attendance

For all the prospective students of the university looking to enroll in the upcoming session, an estimated budget for international students looking to study in the US has been compiled as follows:

Expenses Estimated Costs for UG
Tuition and Fees (12 credits per semester) 12,480 USD
Registration fees 60 USD
Living expenses (room and board) 8,410 USD for 9 months
Health Insurance 2,300 USD
Miscellaneous (laundry, clothing, personal expenses) 1,000 USD
Books and supplies 700 USD

Financial aid and Scholarships

The University offers various kinds of financial aid in the forms of grants, loans and scholarships for international students to study in the USA. Note that international candidates are not eligible for need-based financial aid at Fort Hays State University. They might, however, apply for merit-based and other scholarships offered by their respective departments.

The university spends around 19.9 USD on student grants and loans. The freshman students receive a scholarship of up to 15,000 USD automatically based on their high school GPA and ACT/ SAT scores. 

Some of such scholarships available for the applicants are mentioned below:

Name of the Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility
Tiger Pride Scholarship 3,750 USD 2.95 GPA; 27 ACT/ 1290-1260 SAT
Victor E. Scholarship 2,750 USD 2.55 GPA; 23 ACT/ 1150-1130 SAT
Black & Gold Scholarship 2,000 USD 2.25 GPA; 20 ACT/ 1050-1030 SAT
Hays City Scholarship 1,5000 USD 2.25 GPA; 18 ACT/ 980-960 SAT

Alumni Network

Alumni association helps alumni to stay connected with the university. They conduct activities to involve both the alumni and the university. Some of the activities are:

  • Certain events like homecoming and class reunions.
  • Alumni sponsored awards and recognition of outstanding graduates.
  • The State of Kansas FHSU license plate program.
  • Official alumni publications.

Some of the notable alumni of the institute are Vashone Adams, NFL player; Greg Anderson, personal trainer linked to the BALCO steroids scandal; Sheila Frahm, Former Lieutenant Governor of Kansas and Former United States Senator; Kris Kuksi, visual artist; among others.