Management Information Systems and Services at Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State's MIS program produces starting salaries around $55,000—roughly $5,000 below both the Kansas median and national benchmark for this degree. Among the state's 10 MIS programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, trailing flagship options like Kansas and K-State by about $5,000 annually. That gap compounds to over $100,000 across a 20-year career if the differential persists.

The debt load of $24,119 sits right at the national median, creating a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio that students can reasonably pay down within a few years. The real question is whether accepting lower earnings makes sense given the school's 92% admission rate and accessible price point. For Kansas families prioritizing affordability and staying in-state, the tradeoff might work—you're getting a legitimate tech degree without the premium that larger universities charge.

However, these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so they could shift significantly year to year. If your student has the academic profile for KU or K-State (this school's average SAT is 1118), the $5,000 salary difference likely justifies any modest increase in attendance costs. For students who need a more accessible entry point into tech careers, Fort Hays delivers reasonable debt with earnings that, while below state averages, still provide a solid middle-class income in Kansas's lower cost-of-living markets.