Location: Hays, KS•In-State Tuition: $5,633•Out-of-State Tuition: $16,811•Admission Rate: 92%•Avg SAT: 1118
Median Earnings (1yr)
$45,619
54th percentile
60th percentile in Kansas
Median Debt
$31,000
28% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.68 ManageableSample: 25 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Fort Hays State's marketing program sits right in the middle of Kansas offerings, outearning the state median by about $1,200 despite higher-than-average debt loads. While first-year earnings of $45,619 trail the state's flagship programs by roughly $3,000-$5,000, graduates avoid the financial strain common in many business programs—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 means most borrowers can manage payments on typical entry-level marketing salaries.

The debt figure deserves attention: at $31,000, it's about $5,000 higher than Kansas peers typically carry, though it remains well below the crushing burden seen at some private institutions. For Kansas families, this creates a straightforward calculation—your student will likely earn slightly more than the typical Kansas marketing graduate, but will need to service meaningfully higher loans in those crucial early career years.

The main caveat here is sample size. With fewer than 30 recent graduates reporting data, one or two outliers could be skewing these numbers in either direction. If Fort Hays offers your family a strong in-state tuition rate and your student connects with campus resources, the program delivers reasonable value. Just recognize you're not getting the earnings premium of Kansas State or KU, so the question becomes whether the cost difference justifies attending here versus those alternatives.

Where Fort Hays State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all marketing bachelors's programs nationally

Fort Hays State UniversityOther marketing programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Fort Hays State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Fort Hays State University earns $46k — 54th percentile among marketing bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Marketing bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$45,619—$31,0000.68
Kansas State UniversityManhattan$10,942$50,468$61,965$25,0000.50
University of KansasLawrence$11,700$48,204$67,616$21,8930.45
Washburn UniversityTopeka$9,578$47,963$57,133$27,0000.56
Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg$8,008$44,401$53,586$23,9940.54
Benedictine CollegeAtchison$34,800$42,772—$25,7010.60
National Median—$44,728—$24,2670.54

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with marketing graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marketing Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Fort Hays State University, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 25 graduates with reported earnings and 33 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.