Industrial Engineering at Fort Hays State University

Industrial engineering programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $75,000, and Kansas programs cluster slightly higher at roughly $78,000. For Fort Hays State, the estimated debt load of $24,889 against these projected earnings creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33—meaning graduates would owe about four months' salary. That's a manageable starting point for an engineering credential, though the estimates here are drawn from peer programs nationally rather than Fort Hays's actual graduate outcomes.

The challenge is context. Kansas State—the only Kansas program with reported data—shows earnings of $77,724, which sits above the national median. Whether Fort Hays's industrial engineering program performs at, above, or below that benchmark remains unclear. Engineering programs can vary significantly in industry connections, hands-on training quality, and employer recruitment patterns, all of which affect starting salaries. A modest admission rate and SAT profile suggest Fort Hays serves a different student population than Kansas State, but that doesn't necessarily translate to weaker outcomes in a field where technical competency matters more than pedigree.

The debt picture looks reasonable on paper, but you're investing based on projections from comparable programs elsewhere. If Fort Hays's industrial engineering graduates consistently land Kansas-level engineering jobs, this works financially. If outcomes fall short, that debt becomes harder to justify.